NIGERIA: Violence, Curfews and Border Closures Hurt Livelihoods

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <h1 style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </h1><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy47YmF5Md_ZrZOrcGRuoJTO-Ze1fvBoXLNidlDjyPWFAmSlTyyHrIDHVtx9VSXavd-LO01mHPifAEVjaGU_wVmjMhMMsKdKYolpeZvV7mPrswojcgxhKAYVyBd0IwWO94awXb4RUygbA/s1600/Download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy47YmF5Md_ZrZOrcGRuoJTO-Ze1fvBoXLNidlDjyPWFAmSlTyyHrIDHVtx9VSXavd-LO01mHPifAEVjaGU_wVmjMhMMsKdKYolpeZvV7mPrswojcgxhKAYVyBd0IwWO94awXb4RUygbA/s320/Download.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Photo: <a href="http://www.irinnews.org/photo/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Obinna Anyadike/IRIN</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Business is slow in Maiduguri</span></div></td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">MAIDUGURI (IRIN) - More than 1,000 people are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">estimated</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">to have died in bombings and shootings by Islamist extremists in northern Nigeria since 2009, but an additional casualty has been the jobs and opportunities lost in an already deprived region.</span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;">“The economy has been ground down, people are running from the city,” said Joshua Bullus, a deputy pastor in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, where Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad), better known as Boko Haram, began.</span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, bordering the Sahelian countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon, was the centre of a thriving livestock-based economy, with an ancient trade network extending as far as Sudan and the Central African Republic. But despite its illustrious past, the region is one of Nigeria’s least developed.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When Boko Haram<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">declared war<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>on the federal government in 2009, the northeast was already at the bottom of virtually all socio-economic indicators - its marginalization a clue to the violence, according to several analysts. From literacy to child survival, Nigeria’s Demographic Health Surveys consistently reflect a region that has been left behind by the rest of the country.<span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <strong style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Motorbike taxi ban</strong><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Commercial motorbike taxis, popularly known as `okada’, offer one of the few urban job opportunities for young men across Nigeria - typically those with a bit of schooling. `Okada’ riders are key to what makes cities work, and in risking Nigeria’s formidable traffic and the scorn of car-users, they earn<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">well over<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the national minimum wage.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">In July 2011, the state government banned both private and commercial motorbikes from the streets of Maiduguri in response to their use in ride-by shootings by Boko Haram. “The government is not helping the youth,” a University of Maiduguri student, who asked not to be named, told IRIN. “The `okada’ ban is encouraging the youth to join Boko Haram because they don’t have anything.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">An additional security measure, a 7pm curfew enforced by a federal unit called the Joint Task Force (JTF), has also effectively closed the “night market” - the small kiosks that sold household items and fast food until midnight, serving essentially low-wage earners and an important rung in the informal economy.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">“A person can leave his house with 10 naira [6 US cents] in his pocket, struggle for business all day, and then go to the night market to find food for his family,” explained a senior state government official. “Now from 6pm everybody is rushing home.” With Ramadan approaching later this month, when fasting is broken at sunset, the curfew will become even more burdensome.</span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">The JTF has struggled to contain Boko Haram attacks that have targeted state institutions, churches, and individuals seen as critical of the group. The insecurity has led transporters to increase their costs, which has had a knock-on effect on food prices: according to Bullus, his household food bill is now one third more than last year.</span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><table align="right" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableMediumGrid3Accent6" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin: -0.75pt 6pt 3.75pt; width: 200px;"><tbody> <tr> <td style="background: #F79646; border-bottom: solid white 3.0pt; border: solid white 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: accent6; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: background1; mso-border-themecolor: background1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="''" id="Picture_x0020_3" o:allowoverlap="f" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 13.5pt; left: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-top: 0; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: line; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 0; mso-wrap-distance-right: 0; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 17.25pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:title="''" src="file:///C:\Users\GHAZAN~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image001.jpg"> <w:wrap anchory="line" type="square"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><strong><span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Whether they are terrorists or whatever they are called, people want the government to negotiate because millions of people are suffering</span></strong><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: ER; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape alt="''" id="Picture_x0020_33" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 17.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:title="''" src="file:///C:\Users\GHAZAN~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image002.jpg"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></span></b><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Livestock trade hit<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> </span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Most traders from the southeast, who cornered the spare-parts market, have shuttered their shops and moved on in response to the violence, adding to Maiduguri’s sense of isolation, and denying local land owners valuable rent. The closure of the borders with Niger, Chad and Cameroon - to prevent Boko Haram infiltration and escape - has had even more far-reaching consequences for the local economy.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“The border trade has virtually stopped, people are suffering, the livestock market has dropped by 50 or 60 percent,” said Mohammed Nur Alkali, director of the Centre for Trans-Saharan Studies at the University of Maiduguri.</span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Potiskum in Yobe State, a three-hour drive south through at least 20 security forces road blocks, was until May this year the largest livestock market in Nigeria, and probably West Africa. A gun and grenade<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">attack<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>on the market by what traders say was armed robbers, and the state government claims was Boko Haram, killed at least 34 people, and has scattered business to smaller markets in the region.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <br style="text-align: -webkit-auto;" /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Once a week, Potiskum would be packed with trucks and trailers from across Nigeria, especially the southeast, and businessman with cash to spend. Now “the market has halved, even if you bring the cows nobody will buy,” one trader said. Cattle prices are a third lower than before the market was attacked; animals now come from nearby villages instead of the international trade of the past.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> <strong style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Call for government to negotiate with Boko Haram</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Back in Maiduguri, the state government official, as with everybody in the city IRIN spoke to, said peace talks had to begin with Boko Haram. “Whether they are terrorists or whatever they are called, people want the government to negotiate because millions of people are suffering.” He added that the easing of the state of emergency would be a welcome interim measure.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Boko Haram says it is at war with the federal government, and its goal is the imposition of Islamic shariah law across the entire country, including the south where the majority of people are not Muslims. “There is a negotiating position, and then there is the true position of a person,” a Maiduguri-based analyst told IRIN. “The group has told the world they want their people released from prison that is their real concern, not shariah.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /> <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">He added: “If I were the president there would be things I would do behind the scenes. I would work with traditional leaders, as they know the situation. The solution has to be found from inside, rather than imposed from the outside.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

NIGERIA: Violence, Curfews and Border Closures Hurt Livelihoods

Photo:  Obinna Anyadike/IRIN Business is slow in Maiduguri MAIDUGURI (IRIN) - More than 1,000 people are   estimated   to have died in ...

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Nigerian Easter Bombing Death Toll Rises to 36

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMit_Uy3CmtxFlJbHy8gWMsqRk1ZZRx_fS0K_UHU3UdfWmSKGcM08wxBSRs-BUU0AH1SQkwMWePsEo3ysyhF1Fr0dw-WocULDdQYx1iLW2L-r6x3P9dFVf37Jn-YPtdZmHvnLtF4BiAw/s1600/2012040915413855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMit_Uy3CmtxFlJbHy8gWMsqRk1ZZRx_fS0K_UHU3UdfWmSKGcM08wxBSRs-BUU0AH1SQkwMWePsEo3ysyhF1Fr0dw-WocULDdQYx1iLW2L-r6x3P9dFVf37Jn-YPtdZmHvnLtF4BiAw/s640/2012040915413855.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">NNN--- Red Cross workers , assisted by rescue teams, at scene of bomb blast near ECWA Church, one of the two churches in Kaduna which suicide cars bombers had attempted to blow up when Easter Sunday worship was going on April 8,2012. In the incident, a suicide car bomber, apparently failing to gain entry into ECWA Good News Church, detonated his explosives on a busy road, killing 38 people, mostly motorbike riders, and leaving a trail of charred motorcycles and debris. The massive blast also damaged the nearby ECWA Church and the All Nations Christian Assembly Church. In another , an explosion struck the city of Jos, another city of religious and ethnic violence. Some injuries in the blast were reported but no further details were available.Photo courtesy saharareporters.com --- NNN<o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nigerian officials say a suicide car bombing near a church on Easter Sunday killed at least 36 people and wounded dozens more in the country's north.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Witnesses said security personnel in the city of Kaduna prevented the attacker from reaching a collection of churches.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saidu Adamu, Kaduna state's information commissioner, says the explosion damaged several buildings on the city's main road and struck an area where motorcycle taxis do business.  He said it appeared the bomb had detonated prematurely, and that despite the casualties, the attack could have been much worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"I want to believe that we are so lucky that possibly the person who was carrying the bomb could not reach his target, and the bomb's timer was against him," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Adamu noted that the city's streets are mostly empty on Sundays and said it was "lucky" the attack did not come on a work day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A second blast hit later Sunday in the central city of Jos, wounding several people.  The explosions came after foreign diplomats warned of possible attacks on one of the holiest days on the Christian calendar.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Four bombs killed 44 people in Nigeria on Christmas Day last year, including more than 30 at a Catholic church near the capital, Abuja. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Adamu said authorities stationed 30 to 50 security personnel at Kaduna churches Sunday, and that the measures were "highly effective."  He also said citizens play an important role in maintaining security.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Without peace we can never have any municipal government, so I want to assure that Kaduna state government will continue to do its best, but I also want to call on people to understand that security is a business of all," he said.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The radical Islamic group Boko Haram has killed hundreds of people this year in Nigeria and claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day bombings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is a sin" in the Hausa language, is fighting to turn northern Nigeria into a staunchly Islamic state. --- VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Nigerian Easter Bombing Death Toll Rises to 36

NNN--- Red Cross workers , assisted by rescue teams, at scene of bomb blast near ECWA Church, one of the two churches in Kaduna which su...

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Boko Haram Members Burn Schools in Northern Nigeria

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">LAGOS (NNN-PANA) -- Living true to its name, Boko Haram (Western Education is Sin) has embarked on a new campaign of burning schools in its home base of Maiduguri, capital of northern Borno state. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At least five primary schools have been burnt in the city in the past week by suspected Islamist members. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the latest of such cases, the Gomari Costain Primary School was razed overnight Tuesday. The fire is believed to have been set by sect members. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some teachers in the school told newsmen that a group of persons, mainly teenagers, drove away the security guard in the night before setting the school ablaze. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Borno police spokesman Samuel Tizhe confirmed the incident, saying ''we have started investigation but no arrest made yet.'' <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The primary schools that have been burnt since last week include the Maiduguri Experimental School, Kwanar Yobe; the Budum and Kulo Gomna Primary Schools as well as the Abba Ganaram Primary School, all in the Borno state capital. -- NNN-PANA<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /> </div></div>

Boko Haram Members Burn Schools in Northern Nigeria

LAGOS (NNN-PANA) -- Living true to its name, Boko Haram (Western Education is Sin) has embarked on a new campaign of burning schools in it...

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Analysis: What can be done about Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NQ9KWRvA03DJvrhbGvdlpWIQhMYth_OS0towoBkD6AxiQ40N7TZpKE0R2b-GwbB5Z2bhIHfAVhQTrLWTXJlMIMbUuGW-XGXcdE4uxEmvHJ9CLHvEjrpmHSlDD22kolH5P8X8Zyzz19c/s1600/201201110951010120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NQ9KWRvA03DJvrhbGvdlpWIQhMYth_OS0towoBkD6AxiQ40N7TZpKE0R2b-GwbB5Z2bhIHfAVhQTrLWTXJlMIMbUuGW-XGXcdE4uxEmvHJ9CLHvEjrpmHSlDD22kolH5P8X8Zyzz19c/s400/201201110951010120.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">Photo: <a href="http://www.irinnews.org/photo/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Obinna Anyadike/IRIN</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">A church in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Maiduguri</st1:city></st1:place>, one of 11 that have been attacked in the city since 2009</span></i></div></td></tr> </tbody></table><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">NAIROBI</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> (IRIN) - As bombings and shootings by the militant Islamic group Jama’atu Ahlus Sunnah Lid Da’awati Wal Jihad - better known as Boko Haram - escalate, the Nigerian government appears to be struggling to cope with the violence, or map a political solution to the crisis.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> The Salafist group grabbed attention in 2009 with coordinated attacks on government buildings and police stations in four northern states which left more than 800 people dead. The attacks were revenge for an earlier clash with the police, who had opened fire on Boko Haram followers in a funeral procession in the northeastern city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Maiduguri</st1:place></st1:city>, which was widely seen as a deliberate attempt by the state authorities to crush the group.<br /> <br /> The violence metastasized in 2011: there were bombings of the headquarters of the police and the UN in the capital, <st1:city w:st="on">Abuja</st1:city>; more than 100 died in bomb and gun attacks in a single day in two towns in northeastern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Yobe</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and Boko Haram promised strikes in the largely non-Muslim Christian south. In what seemed a deliberate attempt to stir sectarian unrest, a series of bombings on churches on Christmas Day in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Abuja</st1:place></st1:city> killed close to 40 people.<br /> <br /> As Nigerians nervously consider what the violence could portend for the unity of the country, IRIN asked three analysts their views on the conflict, and the steps needed to resolve it. The following responses are from Innocent Chukwuma, executive director of the Cleen Foundation; Hussaini Abdu, a public policy analyst; and security specialist Hussaini Monguno.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> <b>What does Boko Haram represent?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> <b>Innocent Chukwuma:</b> Boko Haram represents different things to different people depending on where you stand in the deep divide of Nigerian society. To the political elite in the south, it may have started as a small, fringe religious sect with a radical worldview about how Nigerian society, especially the northern part, should be governed according to the dictates of Islam. But today [they feel] it is has been hijacked by the northern political elite who have not hidden their distaste about the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan [a Christian southerner], and are now using the group to make the state ungovernable in order to ensure the return of political power to the north.<br /> <br /> However, a more reflective viewpoint sees the group as representing the voices of the northern poor and downtrodden, even though misguided, who have been marginalized in the scheme of things and now seek a violent outlet to [highlight] their issues, like their counterparts in other parts of the country, such as the militants of the Niger Delta and the Odua People's Congress in the southwest.<br /> <br /> <b>Hussaini Abdu:</b> Boko Haram (BH) represents the backward slide of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Although presented in Islamic religious garb, its activities are deeply criminal and political. While the history of BH can be traced to a young Muslim group in the northeast of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>, they have since [morphed] to include criminal groups. Today nobody is clear what the group stands for [and] people are not sure who exactly is responsible for the spate of violence in the country. There is therefore no one acceptable narrative on the issue. The perception of north/Muslim is different from that of south/Christian. Whereas must people in the south or Christians accuse what they call "a disenchanted north" for the problem, the north seems to believe the violence is being perpetrated by people in government and their foreign backers to divide the country.<br /> <br /> <b>Hussaini Monguno</b>: Boko Haram is a name given in 2009 by the press to the religious group led by Mohammed Yusuf, when fighting broke out between the group and the Nigerian police in <st1:city w:st="on">Maiduguri</st1:city>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Borno</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>. This group is an outgrowth of the [conservative] Izala Movement [one of the largest Islamic societies in the country]… [but] Yusuf fell out with senior preachers over ego, differences in perception of religious texts and their attitude/relationship towards the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Borno</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> government… Yusuf built up a robust camp that was self-reliant, well organized and a popular destination of jobless and frustrated youths who found hope and engagement. As his followership grew, his confidence grew - to the deep consternation of the state governor and his courtiers... At the moment the group has resorted to taking revenge for killings, persecution and torture of its members in various prison cells nationwide, with targeted killings of informants and bombings to rattle the government. Lately they have also started to seek recognition and relevance by appealing to aggrieved northern Muslim sentiment [over Jonathan's election victory].<br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><table align="right" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #aabbdc; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 102, 153); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(51, 102, 153); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: rgb(51, 102, 153); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: rgb(51, 102, 153); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1pt; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-right: 6pt; margin-top: -0.75pt; width: 190px;"><tbody> <tr> <td style="border: none; padding: 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt 3.75pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 8.25pt; mso-element-frame-vspace: 1.5pt; mso-element-left: right; mso-element-top: middle; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="''" style='position:absolute; left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:-387pt;margin-top:-466.25pt;width:17.25pt; height:13.5pt;z-index:1;mso-wrap-distance-left:0;mso-wrap-distance-top:0; mso-wrap-distance-right:0;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0; mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text; mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\wisdom\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg" o:title="quotopen"/> <w:wrap type="square"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="left" alt="''" height="18" src="file:///C:/Users/wisdom/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="23" /><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><b>Where the military is involved, the rules of engagement should be defined to avoid molestation of unarmed civilians and abuses that could further mobilize local communities</b><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="''" style='width:17.25pt;height:13.5pt'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\wisdom\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image002.jpg" o:href="http://www.irinnews.org/images/design/quotclose.jpg"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="absMiddle" alt="''" border="0" height="18" src="file:///C:/Users/wisdom/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025" width="23" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr> </tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">How should the government respond?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Innocent Chukwuma</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">: The attacks by Boko Haram and the security challenges they pose represent a potent threat to the corporate existence of </span><st1:country-region style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"> and need to be responded to with all seriousness using a multipronged strategy. Government, in my view, has not given the group all the attention and seriousness it deserves and appear to be playing politics with it in order not to be seen to be hurting certain vested interests. A more holistic strategy should combine an intelligence-led security approach to fish out the masterminds of the attacks, and initiatives that would aid the isolation of the group from the communities in which they operate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> <b>Hussaini Abdu</b>: The government needs to be decisive and deepen intelligence gathering. Where the military is involved, the rules of engagement should be defined to avoid molestation of unarmed civilians and abuses that could further mobilize local communities against the state. The government will also need to make a long-term strategic investment in the northeast of the country to contain the level of poverty and exclusion in the area.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> <b>Hussaini Monguno</b>: The federal government should:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Appoint independent local, national or international leaders to appeal, appease and engage the aggrieved sect members and leaders;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Unban the group, granting them the right to freedom of belief and practice as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Renounce the use of violence, by all parties;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Unconditionally release the thousands of Yusufiyya members in cells, detained without charge;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Dispassionately review the events of 2009 and show remorse where necessary;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Work to win the confidence and trust of the affected communities through careful conflict resolution measures;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Compensate and rehabilitate all those families who have suffered loses both human and material;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Allocate federal government resources for rapid rehabilitation of infrastructure, boost agriculture and cross-border trading to promote rapid employment for the teeming uneducated, excluded youths.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">What are the constraints the government faces?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> <b>Innocent Chukwuma:</b> The major constraints faced by the government in dealing with Boko Haram is the politicization of everything in this country, which has crippled law enforcement and security agencies from carrying out their functions in a professional manner, without fear or favour.<br /> <br /> There is also a certain level of insincerity and deceit on the part of government in confronting the issue squarely. A typical example is the half-hearted declaration of a state of emergency made by President Jonathan in 14 local governments areas [in Yobe], which is neither here nor there in practical terms. Everybody knows that unless you declare a state-wide state of emergency, which would mean removing elected governors and replacing them with people with clear mandates to work with security agencies to restore law and order in affected states within a given period of time, not much can be achieved.<br /> <br /> <b>Hussaini Abdu:</b> Lack of capacity, especially intelligence gathering capacity, poor political will to face the challenge of dealing with criminality, the religious colouration of the situation, and the extreme politicization of the situation by the government.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> <b>Hussaini Monguno</b>: The following:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Weak and heavily compromised political leadership;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The inability of the federal government to detach itself from the exploitation of sectional, sectarian, ethnic [interests];<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Inability of the federal government to reverse itself having already tagged the problem a national security threat that should be wiped out;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Difficulty in breaking free from the beneficiaries of this standoff, i.e. the leaders of the security arms of government, security equipment suppliers, agents and contractors;<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The reluctance of the federal authorities to bring the former <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Borno</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, to account for his misrule.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ul></div>

Analysis: What can be done about Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants?

Photo:  Obinna Anyadike/IRIN A church in  Maiduguri , one of 11 that have been attacked in the city since 2009 NAIROBI (IRIN) - As bom...

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Gunmen Kill 6 in Nigerian Church Attack

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><b><br /> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">By Diaa Bekheet<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The pastor of a church in northeastern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place> says gunmen burst into a Thursday night service, killing six worshippers and wounding 10.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> Pastor Johnson Jauro of the Deeper Life church in Gombe said the gunmen opened fire on the congregation while he was holding a prayer service. He said is his wife was among the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> Police confirmed the attack and said an investigation was ongoing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> Though no one has claimed responsibility, suspicion immediately fell on the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. Earlier this week, the group warned Christians in the largely Muslim north to leave the region in three days or face death.<br /> <br /> Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for a number of recent attacks, including the Christmas day bombing of a Catholic church in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Abuja</st1:city></st1:place> that killed more than 30 people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> The sect, whose name means "Western education is a sin" in the Hausa language, was responsible for the killings of at least 500 people throughout the country last year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br /> <br /> It is fighting to implement a radical interpretation of Islamic law across <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>, which is divided between a primarily Muslim north and a mainly Christian south.<br /> <br /> Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in 15 regions last week, closing parts of the borders with <st1:country-region w:st="on">Niger</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Chad</st1:country-region>, and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cameroon</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Mr. Jonathan has vowed to crush Boko Haram, but his critics complain that he has done little to rein in the group.<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;"> ---VOA News</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Gunmen Kill 6 in Nigerian Church Attack

By Diaa Bekheet The pastor of a church in northeastern Nigeria says gunmen burst into a Thursday night service, killing six worshippers ...

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Nigeria Bombings: No Conflict between Muslims and Christians - Top Muslim Leader

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">LAGOS (NNN-AFROLNEWS) -- Nigeria's top Muslim spiritual leader sought to calm tensions Tuesday after meeting the country's president over deadly Christmas attacks claimed by Islamists that risk inflaming sectarian divisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I want to assure all Nigerians that there is no conflict between Muslims and Christians, between Islam and Christianity," Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar told journalists after the meeting that lasted some 90 minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"It's a conflict between evil people and good people. The good people are more than the evil ones, so the good people must come together to defeat the evil ones, and that is the message."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President Goodluck Jonathan did not speak publicly after the meeting, but his national security adviser urged Christians not to retaliate over the bombings, the worst of which killed worshippers as they left a Roman Catholic church near the capital <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Abuja</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"We are Nigerians. I don't see any major conflict between the Christian community and Muslim community," Owoye Azazi said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Retaliation is not the answer, because if you retaliate, at what point will it end? <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region> must survive as a nation."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Islamist group Boko Haram claimed the Christmas attacks that killed 40 people, 35 of them at the church near <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Abuja</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Nigeria</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> has seen scores of attacks claimed by Boko Haram, but some analysts said the Christmas bombings marked a dangerous escalation in a country divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The sultan said Jonathan agreed to look at previous reports issued by government panels on the violence linked to radical Islamists and the country's sectarian divisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Muslim leader also said that more discussions would be held with religious and traditional leaders and Jonathan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Previous studies on Boko Haram have delved into the roots of the crisis, including poverty in the north and alleged political links to some who have been involved in violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The reports have produced no visible changes despite the government's pledges to take them into consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Muslim leaders have come under pressure to take a more active role in seeking to stop attacks by Boko Haram. The sultan condemned the attacks as "un-Islamic, un-Godly."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Jonathan, a Christian from the south, has faced major opposition in the north of <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>'s most populous nation. -- NNN-AFROLNEWS<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Nigeria Bombings: No Conflict between Muslims and Christians - Top Muslim Leader

LAGOS (NNN-AFROLNEWS) -- Nigeria's top Muslim spiritual leader sought to calm tensions Tuesday after meeting the country's preside...

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At Least 25 Killed In Nigerian Church Blast

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MOSCOW (RIA Novosti)- At least 25 people were killed in the explosion that ripped through a Catholic church during the Christmas service near Nigeria's capital on Sunday, officials said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The blast hit St. Theresa Church in Madalla, a town in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Niger</st1:country-region> state near the capital <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Abuja</st1:place></st1:city> as worshippers gathered for Christmas Mass.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Earlier the emergency services said there were not enough ambulances to evacuate all those injured and killed in the blast.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The explosion comes amid recent attacks by a militant Islamic group, Boko Haram, which has been seeking to impose Sharia law across <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region> with its predominantly Christian south and largely Muslim north.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">None of the militant groups has yet to claim responsibility for the attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div></div>

At Least 25 Killed In Nigerian Church Blast

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti)- At least 25 people were killed in the explosion that ripped through a Catholic church during the Christmas service n...

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Nigeria Deploys Troops at Power Stations as Strike Looms

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /> </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Owei Lafenka, acting secretary general of the Nigeria Labor Congress, says the troop deployment threatens national security<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By James Butty<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span> </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An official of the Nigeria Labor Congress says the federal government’s decision to deploy troops at facilities of the state-run Power Company of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place> poses a threat to national security.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The government action follows a decision by the National Union of Electricity Employees to go on strike Monday.<span>  </span>The union is demanding a 50 percent salary increase and opposes the government’s decision to privatize the power industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Power Minister Barth Nnaji is quoted as saying the troop deployment is to protect the country’s power facilities and that a strike by the workers would endanger <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s national security.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Owei Lakenfa, acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Labor Congress, says the power sector is part of the national heritage of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place> and the workers will not allow anyone to purchase it without first addressing their concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The first thing is that we do not think the deployment of troops is an alternative to normal industrial issues or problems for solution.<span>  </span>Secondly, we tell the government that, if you deploy armed soldiers against workers in their places of work, that is dangerous.<span>  </span>If you use armed soldiers against workers at their place [of] work, what would [happen] if <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place> were invaded by another country?” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nnaji has reportedly said the deployment is intended to protect the country’s power facilities and that a strike by the workers would endanger <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s national security.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lafenka said the deployment of troops is not about security, but rather the sale of the state-owned power company.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“If soldiers were deployed to bring in Indians and Chinese and Koreans to assess the power installations for sale, using cameras and video, that is not about security.<span>  </span>It is about the sale of the facilities,” Lafenka said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He said the power workers will have no need to go on strike if negotiations going on about the future of workers in a future privatized Nigeria Power Company.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“For instance, there is the issue of salary increase which had been agreed on some few years, but which had not been implemented.<span>  </span>The second point has to do with casualization of work.<span>  </span>There are 10, 000 workers in the sector who are casual [part time] workers and who have been working for between two and 15 years.<span>  </span>And so, the concern of electricity workers is that, if these people are not made permanent, they will never find gratuity and pension at the end of the day,” Lafenka said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lafenka said the true threat to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s security is not the workers’ demand for better wages but rather the government’s attempt to privatize the power industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Whenever workers demand for basic needs, they say it’s against national security; everything that is in the interest of the poor and the people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place>, they say it’s against national security.<span>  </span>And, what we are saying is that the government action in drafting armed soldiers to power installations in order to enable Chinese and Indians to buy the corporation is against national security,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nigeria</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> suffers from daily power shortages and outages costing the country billions of dollars annually.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lafenka said the workers want to be consulted before the government tries to privatize the Power Company of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“There is no need for privatization because the government spent billions of dollars in the name of reforming the electricity sector.<span>  </span>For instance, former President [Olusagun] Obasanjo spent $16 billion and all we have is more darkness in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span>  </span>That is a case of embezzlement and fraud.<span>  </span>The second point we are making is that, even if you are going to privatize, there are human beings that work in this sector.<span>  </span>So, the issue of their pension, of their gratuity, must be addressed,” Lafenka said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He said if the government fails to listen to the concerns of workers, then the workers would no alternative, but to go a strike.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">‘If the workers go on strike and the government [uses] armed soldiers and policemen, then the Nigerian Labor Congress will also call on other federal workers for support.<span>  </span>We will then move to call the Nigerian people to defend workers and defend their workers and defend our heritage because the power sector is part of the national heritage of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>,” said Lefenka.---VOA News</span></div></div>

Nigeria Deploys Troops at Power Stations as Strike Looms

Owei Lafenka, acting secretary general of the Nigeria Labor Congress, says the troop deployment threatens national security By James Butt...

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Niger: Saif al-Islam Gadhafi would be Transferred Over to ICC

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">By Scott Stearns from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dakar</st1:place></st1:city></span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The International Criminal Court (ICC) is trying to arrange the surrender of Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, who is on the run and could be heading for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Niger</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The new civilian government in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Niger</st1:country-region></st1:place> says the eldest son of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi would be turned over to the court if he arrives in the country.<span>  </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Saif al-Islam Gadhafi has been on the run since he and his father, the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, fled <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tripoli</st1:place></st1:city> in August.<span>  </span>ICC prosecutors say they are trying to arrange his surrender on charges of crimes against humanity. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Throughout <st1:country-region w:st="on">Libya</st1:country-region>'s rebellion, several convoys of Gadhafi allies have crossed into <st1:country-region w:st="on">Niger</st1:country-region> on what the government in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Niamey</st1:place></st1:city> calls humanitarian grounds.<span>  </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Habi Mahamadou Salissou is a senior member of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Niger</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s coalition government.<span>  </span>He says surrender is Saif al-Islam's best option. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">If the International Criminal Court is in talks with him, Salissou says, it is best that Saif al-Islam go of his own accord, rather than be hunted and caught by Libyans, who, Salissou says, will end up killing him as they did his brother and father. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Salissou says <st1:country-region w:st="on">Niger</st1:country-region> does not know where Saif al-Islam is hiding, but that if he is in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Niger</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the government will discuss how best to transfer him to the International Criminal Court. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Because <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Niger</st1:place></st1:country-region> is a signatory to the international court, Salissou says, it is obliged to respect its commitments.<span>  </span>But it will do so while protecting the life of all those on Nigerien soil. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Moammar Gadhafi remains popular among ethnic Tuaregs in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Niger</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mali</st1:place></st1:country-region>, many of whom fought in his army.<span>  </span>The late Libyan leader backed, then helped negotiate the end of, Tuareg rebellions against the governments in <st1:city w:st="on">Niamey</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bamako</st1:place></st1:city>. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The two countries say they are working together with <st1:city w:st="on">Tripoli</st1:city>'s interim leaders to arrange for the return to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Libya</st1:place></st1:country-region> of some Tuareg veterans of the Gadhafi army.<span>  </span>Large groups of armed Tuaregs who fled <st1:country-region w:st="on">Libya</st1:country-region> are raising concerns about renewed instability in northern <st1:country-region w:st="on">Niger</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mali</st1:country-region> as well as the spread of weapons to al-Qaida affiliated terrorists in the <st1:place w:st="on">Sahel</st1:place>. ---VOA News</div></div>

Niger: Saif al-Islam Gadhafi would be Transferred Over to ICC

By Scott Stearns from Dakar The International Criminal Court (ICC) is trying to arrange the surrender of Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, who is on...

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Nigerian pirates release crew of German tanker

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <h1 style="margin-bottom: 2.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #010000; font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br /> </span></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MOSCOW</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (RIA Novosti) - Nigerian pirates have released the crew of a German oil tanker hijacked six days ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The pirates seized the MT Cape Bird, a tanker with a crew of 20, including five Russians, in waters off <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lagos</st1:place></st1:city> on Saturday night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The crewmembers were freed last night. All are safe and sound,” Sergei Panyushkin, the head of a Russian sailor recruiting firm, told RIA Novosti.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The crew also included nationals of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Latvia</st1:country-region></st1:place>. </span></div></div>

Nigerian pirates release crew of German tanker

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Nigerian pirates have released the crew of a German oil tanker hijacked six days ago. The pirates seized the MT C...

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Activities of Nigeria’s Boko Haram sect negates Islamic doctrine, says scholar

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">OSOGBO (NNN-NAN) -- A Lagos-based Islamic scholar, Abdul’liadi Ishola, has asserted that the activities of the Boko Haram sect, a Nigerian Islamist group seeking the imposition of Shariah law in the northern states of the country, negates Islamic doctrine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Delivering a lecture on "Islamaphobia: Challenge of Modern Time", organized by the branch of the Muslim Congress in this capital of Osun state in southwestern Nigeria over the weekend, he described members of the sect and their sponsors as enemies of God and the human race.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Saying that killing innocent souls and bombing public places were not in accordance Islamic teachings, he decried the idea of equating the behaviour of the Boko Haram members with that of Muslim faithful.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"These criminals called Boko Haram are ignorant of Islamic teachings; they know nothing about the religion; in fact, they lack understanding of Islam. We have Muslim faithful among scores of people who have been killed by these hoodlums; yet they are claiming to be followers of Prophet Muhammad,'' Ishola observed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He attributed the rising spate of violence and other criminal acts in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region> to the ineffectiveness of the security agencies and urged the government to ensure the protection of all Nigerians.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The scholar further charged all Muslims to be focused and to live by example for other people to emulate. "Live peacefully with your neighbours and try as much as possible to present Islam correctly through your good disposition. Study and understand the religion, proclaim it, abide by its teachings, practise it and avoid chaos and other acts that can tarnish your image."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Another guest lecturer, Alhaji Musa Babalola, a banker, who spoke on Islamic Banking, allayed fears over the planned introduction of the Islamic banking system by the Central Bank of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region>, saying that it was not intended to introduce Sharia nationwide, as being alleged.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">According to Babalola, all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious affiliation, would benefit from the facilities of the Islamic banking system.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He explained that Islamic banking was a non-interest banking system for every Nigerian who had genuine business or useful project which would benefit other people. He called on all Nigerians to support its introduction, adding that it would go a long way in boosting the nation's economy, when introduced.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Hundreds of Muslim faithful across the state and beyond attended the 2011 Special Annual Lecture of the congress. -- NNN-NAN<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Activities of Nigeria’s Boko Haram sect negates Islamic doctrine, says scholar

OSOGBO (NNN-NAN) -- A Lagos-based Islamic scholar, Abdul’liadi Ishola, has asserted that the activities of the Boko Haram sect, a Nigerian...

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NIGERIA WANTS TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS TO WATER SECTOR

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Nigeria-Five-Decades-Independence/dp/023062023X?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="My Nigeria: Five Decades of Independence" height="320" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=023062023X&tag=glob036-20" width="212" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=023062023X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />ABUJA (NNN-NAN) -- Nigeria's Federal Government has re-affirmed its readiness to collaborate with foreign investors in dam construction, rehabilitation and maintenance to boost the water sector of the country.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Minister of State for Trade and Investment Dr Samuel Ortom told a stakeholders inter-active forum of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) here Tuesday that the government would welcome all potential and prospective investors, private and foreign, to contribute to the growth of water supply to meet Nigeria’s target of water for all.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"We are available and willing to collaborate with all potential investors; we welcome them to our country, and will provide an enabling and conducive atmosphere for investment to thrive in the country. The Ministry of Trade is prepared to also collaborate with other ministries, especially the Ministry of Water Resources, to ensure that we boost water supply in the country," he said.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The minister added that the government had the political will to implement policies and plans for the development of the sector and also monitor projects on ground.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Gone are the days of policy on paper; we are out for action to see how things can be turned into actionable and practicable realities. All investors will have successful investment in our country because dams are very important, especially in the northern part of the country, for human life and for agriculture; so we need all the support to revamp the sector," Ortom said.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The minister said the eastern, western and southern parts of the country would also benefit from investments in the sector as water was key to human and national development. -- NNN-NAN</span></div></div>

NIGERIA WANTS TO ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS TO WATER SECTOR

ABUJA (NNN-NAN) -- Nigeria's Federal Government has re-affirmed its readiness to collaborate with foreign investors in dam construction...

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Nigeria Arrests 6 for Deadly Bombings

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Customs-Nigeria-Africa/dp/0313361096?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Culture and Customs of Nigeria (Culture and Customs of Africa)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0313361096&tag=glob036-20" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0313361096" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />Nigeria's secret police say they have arrested six people linked to a radical Islamic sect suspected of bombing an elections office and a church earlier this year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Nigeria's State Security Service said Tuesday the detainees belong to Boko Haram, which authorities blame for dozens of bombings and shootings around the country.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The security agency says the six men are charged with two bombings in Suleija, a town near the capital, Abuja.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first bombing took place at an elections office on April 8, the eve of National Assembly polls.  At least eight people were killed.  The church bombing took place on July 10 and killed three people.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Authorities also said Tuesday they had discovered a bomb-making factory near Suleija.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The secret police did not say if the six detainees were suspected of taking part in the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Abuja last month.  Boko Haram claimed responsibility for that attack, which killed at least 23 people.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Nigerian government has been under increasing pressure to stem a wave of bombings and assassinations either claimed by or blamed on Boko Haram.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The radical group wants a strict form of Islamic law applied more widely across Africa's most populous nation.  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The group's name in the Hausa language means "Western education is a sin." (VOA News)</span><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Nigeria" target="_blank">Search Amazon.com for Nigeria</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /> </div></div>

Nigeria Arrests 6 for Deadly Bombings

Nigeria's secret police say they have arrested six people linked to a radical Islamic sect suspected of bombing an elections office an...

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UN officials condemn deadly attack against UN compound in Nigeria

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaka886FeuOcYAxXHO62mH1C5yl0LnQbQP5HgEHVfn3GJoW7UKLCchHon9R1huogjTXb53H4I6XNJfxdTopLHvJcn3kbPwDqBvEoyljs0p4Puu3tbYfTk7gENk-pa1PNhq2XglJ8k7-wA/s1600/abuja+nigeria-house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaka886FeuOcYAxXHO62mH1C5yl0LnQbQP5HgEHVfn3GJoW7UKLCchHon9R1huogjTXb53H4I6XNJfxdTopLHvJcn3kbPwDqBvEoyljs0p4Puu3tbYfTk7gENk-pa1PNhq2XglJ8k7-wA/s320/abuja+nigeria-house.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 1.2pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>UN compound in Abuja</b></i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr> </tbody></table><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned this morning’s attack on the United Nations building in Abuja, in which a number of people have been killed or wounded, and said he is dispatching top officials to the Nigerian capital to respond to the emergency.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b> <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>The compound in Abuja, a series of buildings that house the offices of 26 UN humanitarian and development agencies, was struck by a car bomb at around 11 a.m. local time. Hundreds of UN staff members were working in the compound at the time of the attack.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>“This was an assault on those who devote their lives to helping others,” Mr. Ban told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. “We condemn this terrible act, utterly.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div></b></span><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cedfde; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>This was an assault on those who devote their lives to helping others.</i></span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><br /> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b><i>Mr. Ban said that the UN did not yet has precise casualty figures but “they are likely to be considerable,” adding that a number of people are dead and many more are wounded.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>“On this very sad occasion, I extend my deepest sympathies to the victims and their families,” he said. “The UN will undertake every possible effort to assist them during this difficult time.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>Nigerian and international search and rescue teams have mobilized and are moving the wounded to hospitals and providing emergency aid.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>Mr. Ban announced that he is dispatching Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro to Nigeria immediately and mobilizing the UN system to respond to the emergency. She will be accompanied by the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, Gregory Starr, and meet with Nigerian authorities on arrival in Abuja.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters that there was no previous threat against the UN compound, which had barriers around it to protect against attack.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>“It is regarded as a well-defended building and we will need to investigate how it was that the attackers managed to get past different levels of protection so that they could cause the damage that they did,” he said.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>The Secretary-General added that he will also call the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, soon to discuss the attack. The Security Council observed a minute’s silence before the start of a meeting today on UN peacekeeping operations, during which individual delegations all voiced their strong condemnation of the attack.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>The heads of several UN agencies deplored today’s bombing, including the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Helen Clark, who voiced deep sadness at the loss of UN personnel and Nigerian citizens killed in the attack.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>“These are unarmed civilians who have dedicated their lives to helping the people of Nigeria,” she said. Miss Clark added that the UN Country Team is working closely with national authorities to account for those still missing.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>The Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Anthony Lake, noted that the loss of UN colleagues comes exactly one week after the Organization commemorated the bravery of those working to save lives around the globe during the annual World Humanitarian Day.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>“This tragic event should remind us all of the courage of so many other aid workers who face similar dangers and who are doing so much for so many around the world,” he said.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>That sentiment was echoed in a statement issued by the UN Staff Union, which called on the Nigerian authorities to do their utmost to apprehend those responsible. “This event, once again, serves as a tragic reminder of the innumerable risks undertaken daily by United Nations personnel across the globe,” it said in a statement.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i><br /> </i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 16.8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>UN flags will be flown at half-mast for three days starting tomorrow. (UN News)</i></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /> <br /> </div>

UN officials condemn deadly attack against UN compound in Nigeria

UN compound in Abuja Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned this morning’s attack on the United Nations building in Abuja, in...

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