Syrian forces intervene during online broadcast

Since it became possible for anyone with a smartphone and a decent signal to live-stream video, a number of extraordinary and unpredicted events have been broadcast on social media as they happened.

This week a woman in the USA live-streamed the aftermath of the incident in which her boyfriend was shot dead by policemen, with her young daughter sitting in the same car. Lavish Reynolds was able to keep filming even when officers made her kneel on the pavement at gunpoint.
But in some places, it's best not to flash your phone and microphone around, even if you are a pro-government reporter.
On Wednesday, a presenter from Damascus Now - a popular Syrian Facebook page dedicated to local news - had some surprise guests while he was doing a Facebook Live appearance on the streets of the Syrian capital.
Damascus Now, which has almost one million followers, tends to adopt a pro-government tone. But despite that, and for reasons that are not entirely clear, passing members of the security forces became suspicious and decided to question the reporter while he was in the middle of his live broadcast from the Al-Baramkah neighbourhood. Viewers saw the camera shaking and the filming angle rotating,
There was a mixed reaction from the audience. Some made jokes in the comments section under the video as the reporter was questioned live on air. One interrogator asked him who he worked for and the content of the Facebook Live. One viewer commented "poor man", while another one was concerned about the fate of the reporter.

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After the incident the video of the event was deleted from Damascus Now's Facebook page. But a brief account of what happened was posted on the page, pointing out that this was the first instance of a Facebook Live broadcast in Damascus being interrupted by security forces. According to the website, the reporter was set free "after the security found out he works for Damascus Now page" and then resumed his work.

UK to send 50 additional troops to Afghanistan

The UK is to send up to 50 additional military personnel to Afghanistan to train and advise security forces there.

They will join the 450 British troops already in the country - and will aid counter-terrorism efforts and provide leadership training.
Officials have said the additional troops will not be taking part in combat operations against the Taliban.
UK troops had been due to leave Afghanistan this year but will now have their mission extended into 2017.
Announcing the deployment at a Nato summit in Warsaw, Mr Cameron said it was essential that Nato continued "to work with the Afghan government and the Afghan security forces to help keep terrorists out of that country".
He said the "UK would do more to train Afghan officers" while deploying "a further 50 personnel to provide additional mentoring, particularly to the Afghan air force".
He also announced MPs will vote on replacing the ageing submarines carrying the Trident nuclear missile system on 18 July.

• Why are the Taliban resurgent in Afghanistan?
• Where are British troops deployed overseas?

It comes after US President Barack Obama this week announced a slowdown in the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Of the additional UK troops to be deployed, 21 will join the counter-terrorism mission, 15 will be involved in a leadership development at the Afghan army's officer training academy, and 13 will join Nato's Resolute Support Mission.
In addition, Britain is to extend its £70m a year funding for the Afghan security forces to 2020, committing an extra £178m to the Afghan government of president Ashraf Ghani.
Mr Cameron said the deployment underlined his determination that Britain should continue to play a leading role on the world stage despite the referendum vote to leave the European Union.
"Britain is not going to be playing a lesser role in the world. We will make sure that we use our strength, including through Nato, to spread British values and the things that we believe in," Mr Cameron added.
The prime minister also emphasised that President Obama had told him Britain would continue to be a reliable, strong ally outside the European Union.

'Precarious' situation

It comes after it was announced that a 500-strong battalion of UK troops will be deployed to Estonia and 150 troops will go to Poland as part of the Nato response to concerns over Russia.
Earlier this week, Mr Obama told reporters that the security situation in Afghanistan remained "precarious", with the Taliban still mounting suicide attacks in the capital Kabul and other cities.
"Instead of going down to 5,500 troops by the end of this year, the United States will maintain approximately 8,400 troops in Afghanistan into next year through the end of my administration," Mr Obama said.
"It is in our national security interest, especially after all the blood and treasure we've invested over the years, that we give our partners in Afghanistan the best chance to succeed," he added.

The UK is to send up to 50 additional military personnel to Afghanistan to train and advise security forces there.

They will join the 450 British troops already in the country - and will aid counter-terrorism efforts and provide leadership training.
Officials have said the additional troops will not be taking part in combat operations against the Taliban.
UK troops had been due to leave Afghanistan this year but will now have their mission extended into 2017.
Announcing the deployment at a Nato summit in Warsaw, Mr Cameron said it was essential that Nato continued "to work with the Afghan government and the Afghan security forces to help keep terrorists out of that country".
He said the "UK would do more to train Afghan officers" while deploying "a further 50 personnel to provide additional mentoring, particularly to the Afghan air force".
He also announced MPs will vote on replacing the ageing submarines carrying the Trident nuclear missile system on 18 July.

• Why are the Taliban resurgent in Afghanistan?
• Where are British troops deployed overseas?

It comes after US President Barack Obama this week announced a slowdown in the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Of the additional UK troops to be deployed, 21 will join the counter-terrorism mission, 15 will be involved in a leadership development at the Afghan army's officer training academy, and 13 will join Nato's Resolute Support Mission.
In addition, Britain is to extend its £70m a year funding for the Afghan security forces to 2020, committing an extra £178m to the Afghan government of president Ashraf Ghani.
Mr Cameron said the deployment underlined his determination that Britain should continue to play a leading role on the world stage despite the referendum vote to leave the European Union.
"Britain is not going to be playing a lesser role in the world. We will make sure that we use our strength, including through Nato, to spread British values and the things that we believe in," Mr Cameron added.
The prime minister also emphasised that President Obama had told him Britain would continue to be a reliable, strong ally outside the European Union.

'Precarious' situation

It comes after it was announced that a 500-strong battalion of UK troops will be deployed to Estonia and 150 troops will go to Poland as part of the Nato response to concerns over Russia.
Earlier this week, Mr Obama told reporters that the security situation in Afghanistan remained "precarious", with the Taliban still mounting suicide attacks in the capital Kabul and other cities.
"Instead of going down to 5,500 troops by the end of this year, the United States will maintain approximately 8,400 troops in Afghanistan into next year through the end of my administration," Mr Obama said.
"It is in our national security interest, especially after all the blood and treasure we've invested over the years, that we give our partners in Afghanistan the best chance to succeed," he added.

Biafra: Military coup or not can’t stop our agitation— MASSOB/BIM

The Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB and Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, yesterday stated that military coup d’tat or not in Nigeria, as speculated in some quarters, would not deter the movement from carrying out its non violent struggle to actualize Biafra.

MASSOB/BIM contended that even if Nigerians wake up tomorrow morning and discover that the military has toppled the present democratic government in place, the movement would not mind because the MASSOB/BIM leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike had actually wanted to start the current agitations in 1997 during the Abacha military regime but one thing or the other shifted it to 1999 during Obasanjo’s regime. In a press statement issued yesterday to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra state, shortly after the inspection of MASSOB/BIM’s information office at Umuaka, in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo state, MASSOB/BIM’s National Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha noted that the group met the requirements of UN to carry out its separatist agitation when in 1999 Uwazuruike notified the UN by applying for an observer status and also accompanied this request with the Biafra bill of rights. Mocha expressed confidence that MASSOB/BIM and others have convinced the UN through its actions that there will be no peace in Nigeria unless independence is granted to them. He therefore urged MASSOB/BIM members to increase its non-violent activities in south east and south south, adding that self-determination is permitted by the United Nations, UN, even as military regime is illegal and therefore not recognized by the world body to stop agitations. He observed that, although UN will not sponsor any rebellious act in any nation including Nigeria that is a member of the UN, the organization permitted that any section of its member states or nation that wants independence is free to pursue the course holistically. Mocha expressed optimism that the UN will normally intervene in Nigeria’ when the further existence of the member state becomes questionable and ungovernable, he lamented that before now, that the world body had played double standard in tacking the conflicts or crises affecting the Africa continent. Mocha accused Britain and other western nations that it had always waited until such problems degenerated into civil wars or genocide before it intervened.

One year after, Buhari yet to meet any of our demands, BBOG laments.

The Bring Back Our Girls movement has lamented the inability of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to meet any of its demands, a year after its first parley with the president.
Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari (2nd L) and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (L) listen to coordinator of the Bring Back Our Girls group Oby Ezekwesili (C) as she speaks about the ongoing campaigning for the release of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists during a meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari in Abuja, on July 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO In a statement read Friday during a special sit-out in Abuja to evaluate its achievements one year after engaging with the president, BBOG said it is extremely disappointing that none of the five demands has been completed. “On 8th July 2015, the #BringBackOurGirls movement, parents of our abducted #ChibokGirls and representatives of the Chibok community had an engagement with the new President, Muhammadu Buhari. This was necessitated by the need to establish fact, the urgency of our cause and dispel misconceptions about our movement, especially considering the treatment we had received from the preceding administration. At the time of that engagement, our 219 girls had been in captivity for 450 days and the President acknowledged government failure with regards to the rights of our girls and victims of the insurgency. “As part of our submissions to the President, we presented Our crowd-sourced Citizens’ Solution to End Terrorism, Verification, Authentication and Reunification System (VARS), and a List of Demands”, the group said in the statement which w as jointly signed by Dr Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu. Its initial demands were the implementation of the Verification, Authentication and Reunification System VARS, Protocol of Engagement with the Citizens among others. “We proposed that a team be tasked with the credible implementation of VARS. The primary task of the team was to work with every abducted victim’s family and community to accurately ascertain the true identity of such individuals. Following their accurate identification, the comprehensive program for Recovery, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Reintegration was to be made available to them. It was also supposed to entail the setting up of a Missing Persons’ Register. “We requested that the President direct relevant Government representatives to work with the BBOG Family to commence work immediately on an Accountability Matrix, which will define the protocol for obtaining and sharing information with citizens. We also suggested a monthly meeting between security operatives and community stakeholders in communities most affected by these acts of violence e.g. Chibok, Gwoza and Bama. We believed at that time that it would encourage much needed collaboration and information sharing to bridge the identified communication gap. “We requested that the President direct the establishment of a Commission charged with the task of transparently investigating and reporting on the security lapses that caused their successful abduction and the operational leadership failures that led to their long captivity in terrorist enclave. This Commission was also to review the allegations of corruption within our security services that has hindered its capacity to perform effectively “We requested that the President direct that the Report of the Presidential Fact Finding Committee of the Chibok Girls and the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East be made public immediately. “We suggested that the Government begin, in earnest, a holistic process of proper sensitization and enlightenment to curb this trend of youth radicalization and extremism. The BBOG Family indicated willingness to work with the Government to design the programme. We departed with the hope of re-engaging the administration towards setting clear timelines and deliverables for the five requests. “A year later, it is extremely disappointing that none of the five demands has been completed. Specifically, a failure to implement VARS means we still do not have a cohesive system of identifying liberated citizens or even a database of those affected. Thanks to an initial partnership between the #BringBackOurGirls movement and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a coalition of Government Agencies led by the NHRC has begun the initial processes towards the establishment of a National Missing Persons’ Register. We acknowledge this, but ask that the work is fast-tracked and completed for the benefit of displaced Nigerians. “This morning, a year after our engagement and close to six months since the President directed the setting up of a committee to carry out investigation into the abduction of our girls, we read of an approval of the members of the committee. Again the lack of urgency in the dispatch of responsibilities towards the rescue of our girls is alarming. “At this rate, it begs the questions – when will the committee be constituted? When will they be mobilized to start work? What time line will they work with and the reports submitted? Under what timeline will the government study and act on the report? What does this mean for our Chibok Girls who do not have the luxury of time and whose plight worsens with every passing hour, minute and second? “The non-release of the Report of the Presidential Fact Finding Committee of the Chibok Girls and the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East is also unacceptable. We demand an immediate release of these reports as their importance for lessons learned about the abductions and insurgency in general cannot be overemphasized. We reiterate our position that sensitive areas with implications for national security as repeatedly mentioned can be blotted out of the public document. Global best practice supports this. These lessons learned while providing information to the public will justify the need for expenditure of public resources, provide metrics for scrutiny and acceptance of the new report and factual evidence for the prosecution of all benefactors of the diversion of funds for arms procurement”, BBOG noted. 

Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari (2nd L) and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (L) listen to coordinator of the Bring Back Our Girls group Oby Ezekwesili (C) as she speaks about the ongoing campaigning for the release of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists during a meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari in Abuja, on July 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO In a statement read Friday during a special sit-out in Abuja to evaluate its achievements one year after engaging with the president, BBOG said it is extremely disappointing that none of the five demands has been completed. “On 8th July 2015, the #BringBackOurGirls movement, parents of our abducted #ChibokGirls and representatives of the Chibok community had an engagement with the new President, Muhammadu Buhari. This was necessitated by the need to establish fact, the urgency of our cause and dispel misconceptions about our movement, especially considering the treatment we had received from the preceding administration. At the time of that engagement, our 219 girls had been in captivity for 450 days and the President acknowledged government failure with regards to the rights of our girls and victims of the insurgency. “As part of our submissions to the President, we presented Our crowd-sourced Citizens’ Solution to End Terrorism, Verification, Authentication and Reunification System (VARS), and a List of Demands”, the group said in the statement which w as jointly signed by Dr Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu. Its initial demands were the implementation of the Verification, Authentication and Reunification System VARS, Protocol of Engagement with the Citizens among others. “We proposed that a team be tasked with the credible implementation of VARS. The primary task of the team was to work with every abducted victim’s family and community to accurately ascertain the true identity of such individuals. Following their accurate identification, the comprehensive program for Recovery, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Reintegration was to be made available to them. It was also supposed to entail the setting up of a Missing Persons’ Register. “We requested that the President direct relevant Government representatives to work with the BBOG Family to commence work immediately on an Accountability Matrix, which will define the protocol for obtaining and sharing information with citizens. We also suggested a monthly meeting between security operatives and community stakeholders in communities most affected by these acts of violence e.g. Chibok, Gwoza and Bama. We believed at that time that it would encourage much needed collaboration and information sharing to bridge the identified communication gap. “We requested that the President direct the establishment of a Commission charged with the task of transparently investigating and reporting on the security lapses that caused their successful abduction and the operational leadership failures that led to their long captivity in terrorist enclave. This Commission was also to review the allegations of corruption within our security services that has hindered its capacity to perform effectively “We requested that the President direct that the Report of the Presidential Fact Finding Committee of the Chibok Girls and the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East be made public immediately. “We suggested that the Government begin, in earnest, a holistic process of proper sensitization and enlightenment to curb this trend of youth radicalization and extremism. The BBOG Family indicated willingness to work with the Government to design the programme. We departed with the hope of re-engaging the administration towards setting clear timelines and deliverables for the five requests. “A year later, it is extremely disappointing that none of the five demands has been completed. Specifically, a failure to implement VARS means we still do not have a cohesive system of identifying liberated citizens or even a database of those affected. Thanks to an initial partnership between the #BringBackOurGirls movement and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a coalition of Government Agencies led by the NHRC has begun the initial processes towards the establishment of a National Missing Persons’ Register. We acknowledge this, but ask that the work is fast-tracked and completed for the benefit of displaced Nigerians. “This morning, a year after our engagement and close to six months since the President directed the setting up of a committee to carry out investigation into the abduction of our girls, we read of an approval of the members of the committee. Again the lack of urgency in the dispatch of responsibilities towards the rescue of our girls is alarming. “At this rate, it begs the questions – when will the committee be constituted? When will they be mobilized to start work? What time line will they work with and the reports submitted? Under what timeline will the government study and act on the report? What does this mean for our Chibok Girls who do not have the luxury of time and whose plight worsens with every passing hour, minute and second? “The non-release of the Report of the Presidential Fact Finding Committee of the Chibok Girls and the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East is also unacceptable. We demand an immediate release of these reports as their importance for lessons learned about the abductions and insurgency in general cannot be overemphasized. We reiterate our position that sensitive areas with implications for national security as repeatedly mentioned can be blotted out of the public document. Global best practice supports this. These lessons learned while providing information to the public will justify the need for expenditure of public resources, provide metrics for scrutiny and acceptance of the new report and factual evidence for the prosecution of all benefactors of the diversion of funds for arms procurement”, BBOG noted.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/one-year-buhari-yet-meet-demands-bbog-laments/

The Bring Back Our Girls movement has lamented the inability of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to meet any of its demands, a year after its first parley with the president.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/one-year-buhari-yet-meet-demands-bbog-laments/

The Bring Back Our Girls movement has lamented the inability of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to meet any of its demands, a year after its first parley with the president.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/one-year-buhari-yet-meet-demands-bbog-laments/

The Bring Back Our Girls movement has lamented the inability of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to meet any of its demands, a year after its first parley with the president. Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari (2nd L) and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (L) listen to coordinator of the Bring Back Our Girls group Oby Ezekwesili (C) as she speaks about the ongoing campaigning for the release of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists during a meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari in Abuja, on July 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari (2nd L) and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (L) listen to coordinator of the Bring Back Our Girls group Oby Ezekwesili (C) as she speaks about the ongoing campaigning for the release of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists during a meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari in Abuja, on July 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO In a statement read Friday during a special sit-out in Abuja to evaluate its achievements one year after engaging with the president, BBOG said it is extremely disappointing that none of the five demands has been completed. “On 8th July 2015, the #BringBackOurGirls movement, parents of our abducted #ChibokGirls and representatives of the Chibok community had an engagement with the new President, Muhammadu Buhari. This was necessitated by the need to establish fact, the urgency of our cause and dispel misconceptions about our movement, especially considering the treatment we had received from the preceding administration. At the time of that engagement, our 219 girls had been in captivity for 450 days and the President acknowledged government failure with regards to the rights of our girls and victims of the insurgency. “As part of our submissions to the President, we presented Our crowd-sourced Citizens’ Solution to End Terrorism, Verification, Authentication and Reunification System (VARS), and a List of Demands”, the group said in the statement which w as jointly signed by Dr Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu. Its initial demands were the implementation of the Verification, Authentication and Reunification System VARS, Protocol of Engagement with the Citizens among others. “We proposed that a team be tasked with the credible implementation of VARS. The primary task of the team was to work with every abducted victim’s family and community to accurately ascertain the true identity of such individuals. Following their accurate identification, the comprehensive program for Recovery, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Reintegration was to be made available to them. It was also supposed to entail the setting up of a Missing Persons’ Register. “We requested that the President direct relevant Government representatives to work with the BBOG Family to commence work immediately on an Accountability Matrix, which will define the protocol for obtaining and sharing information with citizens. We also suggested a monthly meeting between security operatives and community stakeholders in communities most affected by these acts of violence e.g. Chibok, Gwoza and Bama. We believed at that time that it would encourage much needed collaboration and information sharing to bridge the identified communication gap. “We requested that the President direct the establishment of a Commission charged with the task of transparently investigating and reporting on the security lapses that caused their successful abduction and the operational leadership failures that led to their long captivity in terrorist enclave. This Commission was also to review the allegations of corruption within our security services that has hindered its capacity to perform effectively “We requested that the President direct that the Report of the Presidential Fact Finding Committee of the Chibok Girls and the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East be made public immediately. “We suggested that the Government begin, in earnest, a holistic process of proper sensitization and enlightenment to curb this trend of youth radicalization and extremism. The BBOG Family indicated willingness to work with the Government to design the programme. We departed with the hope of re-engaging the administration towards setting clear timelines and deliverables for the five requests. “A year later, it is extremely disappointing that none of the five demands has been completed. Specifically, a failure to implement VARS means we still do not have a cohesive system of identifying liberated citizens or even a database of those affected. Thanks to an initial partnership between the #BringBackOurGirls movement and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a coalition of Government Agencies led by the NHRC has begun the initial processes towards the establishment of a National Missing Persons’ Register. We acknowledge this, but ask that the work is fast-tracked and completed for the benefit of displaced Nigerians. “This morning, a year after our engagement and close to six months since the President directed the setting up of a committee to carry out investigation into the abduction of our girls, we read of an approval of the members of the committee. Again the lack of urgency in the dispatch of responsibilities towards the rescue of our girls is alarming. “At this rate, it begs the questions – when will the committee be constituted? When will they be mobilized to start work? What time line will they work with and the reports submitted? Under what timeline will the government study and act on the report? What does this mean for our Chibok Girls who do not have the luxury of time and whose plight worsens with every passing hour, minute and second? “The non-release of the Report of the Presidential Fact Finding Committee of the Chibok Girls and the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East is also unacceptable. We demand an immediate release of these reports as their importance for lessons learned about the abductions and insurgency in general cannot be overemphasized. We reiterate our position that sensitive areas with implications for national security as repeatedly mentioned can be blotted out of the public document. Global best practice supports this. These lessons learned while providing information to the public will justify the need for expenditure of public resources, provide metrics for scrutiny and acceptance of the new report and factual evidence for the prosecution of all benefactors of the diversion of funds for arms procurement”, BBOG noted.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/one-year-buhari-yet-meet-demands-bbog-laments/

The Bring Back Our Girls movement has lamented the inability of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to meet any of its demands, a year after its first parley with the president. Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari (2nd L) and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (L) listen to coordinator of the Bring Back Our Girls group Oby Ezekwesili (C) as she speaks about the ongoing campaigning for the release of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists during a meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari in Abuja, on July 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari (2nd L) and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (L) listen to coordinator of the Bring Back Our Girls group Oby Ezekwesili (C) as she speaks about the ongoing campaigning for the release of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists during a meeting with President Mohammadu Buhari in Abuja, on July 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO In a statement read Friday during a special sit-out in Abuja to evaluate its achievements one year after engaging with the president, BBOG said it is extremely disappointing that none of the five demands has been completed. “On 8th July 2015, the #BringBackOurGirls movement, parents of our abducted #ChibokGirls and representatives of the Chibok community had an engagement with the new President, Muhammadu Buhari. This was necessitated by the need to establish fact, the urgency of our cause and dispel misconceptions about our movement, especially considering the treatment we had received from the preceding administration. At the time of that engagement, our 219 girls had been in captivity for 450 days and the President acknowledged government failure with regards to the rights of our girls and victims of the insurgency. “As part of our submissions to the President, we presented Our crowd-sourced Citizens’ Solution to End Terrorism, Verification, Authentication and Reunification System (VARS), and a List of Demands”, the group said in the statement which w as jointly signed by Dr Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu. Its initial demands were the implementation of the Verification, Authentication and Reunification System VARS, Protocol of Engagement with the Citizens among others. “We proposed that a team be tasked with the credible implementation of VARS. The primary task of the team was to work with every abducted victim’s family and community to accurately ascertain the true identity of such individuals. Following their accurate identification, the comprehensive program for Recovery, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Reintegration was to be made available to them. It was also supposed to entail the setting up of a Missing Persons’ Register. “We requested that the President direct relevant Government representatives to work with the BBOG Family to commence work immediately on an Accountability Matrix, which will define the protocol for obtaining and sharing information with citizens. We also suggested a monthly meeting between security operatives and community stakeholders in communities most affected by these acts of violence e.g. Chibok, Gwoza and Bama. We believed at that time that it would encourage much needed collaboration and information sharing to bridge the identified communication gap. “We requested that the President direct the establishment of a Commission charged with the task of transparently investigating and reporting on the security lapses that caused their successful abduction and the operational leadership failures that led to their long captivity in terrorist enclave. This Commission was also to review the allegations of corruption within our security services that has hindered its capacity to perform effectively “We requested that the President direct that the Report of the Presidential Fact Finding Committee of the Chibok Girls and the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East be made public immediately. “We suggested that the Government begin, in earnest, a holistic process of proper sensitization and enlightenment to curb this trend of youth radicalization and extremism. The BBOG Family indicated willingness to work with the Government to design the programme. We departed with the hope of re-engaging the administration towards setting clear timelines and deliverables for the five requests. “A year later, it is extremely disappointing that none of the five demands has been completed. Specifically, a failure to implement VARS means we still do not have a cohesive system of identifying liberated citizens or even a database of those affected. Thanks to an initial partnership between the #BringBackOurGirls movement and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a coalition of Government Agencies led by the NHRC has begun the initial processes towards the establishment of a National Missing Persons’ Register. We acknowledge this, but ask that the work is fast-tracked and completed for the benefit of displaced Nigerians. “This morning, a year after our engagement and close to six months since the President directed the setting up of a committee to carry out investigation into the abduction of our girls, we read of an approval of the members of the committee. Again the lack of urgency in the dispatch of responsibilities towards the rescue of our girls is alarming. “At this rate, it begs the questions – when will the committee be constituted? When will they be mobilized to start work? What time line will they work with and the reports submitted? Under what timeline will the government study and act on the report? What does this mean for our Chibok Girls who do not have the luxury of time and whose plight worsens with every passing hour, minute and second? “The non-release of the Report of the Presidential Fact Finding Committee of the Chibok Girls and the Presidential Committee on Security Challenges in the North East is also unacceptable. We demand an immediate release of these reports as their importance for lessons learned about the abductions and insurgency in general cannot be overemphasized. We reiterate our position that sensitive areas with implications for national security as repeatedly mentioned can be blotted out of the public document. Global best practice supports this. These lessons learned while providing information to the public will justify the need for expenditure of public resources, provide metrics for scrutiny and acceptance of the new report and factual evidence for the prosecution of all benefactors of the diversion of funds for arms procurement”, BBOG noted.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/one-year-buhari-yet-meet-demands-bbog-laments/

Fresh protests in US over police shootings of black men

Thousands took to the streets in cities across the United States on Friday to denounce the fatal shooting by police of two black men this week, marching the day after a gunman killed five police officers during a similar demonstration in Dallas.
Several thousand protesters flooded the streets of downtown Atlanta, bringing traffic to a standstill after a gathering at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights near Centennial Olympic Park. Drivers in cars honked their horns as people holding signs and chanting “hands up, don’t shoot” streamed beside them.
Demonstrators also clogged roadways in New York City, Philadelphia and Oakland, with related events in San Francisco and Phoenix.
Protesters block the intersection of Hyde Park blvd and Greenwood ave. Pres Obama home is on this block. pic.twitter.com/BT4758EBiq
— Evan F. Moore (@evanFmoore) 8 juillet 2016
In Chicago, members of the Black Lives Matter movement and other groups staged a “die-in” outside President Barack Obama’s home in an effort to push the president to act on the violence occurring between police officers and black people.
While the demonstrations were largely peaceful, in Phoenix police in riot gear used pepper spray on protesters, some of whom threw rocks at officers, local media said.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed tweeted that the rally was largely peaceful in his city, although about 10 people had been arrested.
Today we have had less than ten people arrested during what has been a peaceful protest. We urge anyone protesting not to enter the highway.
— Kasim Reed (@KasimReed) 9 juillet 2016
Protesters also gathered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where 37-year-old Alton Sterling was fatally shot by police early on Tuesday – his killing dramatically caught on video by a friend.
Friday was the second day of demonstrations against the use of force by police following the fatal shootings of Sterling and of 32-year-old Philando Castile near St. Paul, Minnesota.

Leicester complete Ahmed Musa deal

Leicester have completed the signing of Nigerian international Ahmed Musa from CSKA Moscow on a four-year deal for £16 million.
The EPL champions made the Super Eagles hitman their target after he bagged 13 goals  in 30 league appearances for the Russian side last season.
Musa scored 54 goals in 168 games for CSKA.
Expressing his delight at completing the deal, Musa vowed to bring the form which help CSKA win the league into play for the foxes.
“I feel very happy joining Leicester City, for me it’s one of the best clubs and I feel very happy,” he said.
“I joined because it’s one of the best clubs in the Premier League and they are like a family. That’s why I joined Leicester City and I’m very excited.
“I look forward to seeing the fans in the new season and I will do my best to make them happy.”
The 23-year-old  is the Foxes fourth signing of the summer, following the arrival of Nampalys Mendy, Ron-Robert Zieler and Luis Hernandez.
The deal is subject to Premier League and FA approval.
Musa moved from Nigeria to Dutch side VVV Venlo in 2010 at age 19 before catching the eye of CSKA two years later and becoming a permanent fixture in the Russian Premier League.
He has also scored 11 goals in 58 games for Nigeria including a brace against Argentina at the 2014 World Cup.

Niger Delta Avengers fight for selfish interest –Osinbajo

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has declared that the militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers did not fight for the freedom of the region but, saying they only fight for their own selfish interest.

He also said the economic challenges currently facing the country were caused by the activities of the militants at the Niger Delta Region of the country.

The Vice President stated this on Friday at the Second Foundation’s Day Lecture of the Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State where he delivered a lecture titled : ‘ The Future: Here Earlier Than We Thought.’He said, “The Niger Delta Avengers are not freedom fighters, they are not fighting for any freedom, they only fight for their pockets. You can’t be blowing up pipelines and compound the problem of the region and be saying you are fighting for freedom.

“It is not acceptable for anybody under any guise to be vandalising and say they are avenging, that is not acceptable.”

The guest lecturer also attributed the problem facing the power sector in the country and the inability of many state governments to pay salaries of workers to the activities of the militants, which had caused reduction in the country’s revenue from oil.

He maintained that the revenue coming from the oil sector had drastically dwindled due to the blowing up of oil pipelines.

He however said the present administration was making frantic efforts to diversify the economic, adding that efforts were ongoing to develop the private sector.

On the call for restructuring of the country as a solution to the economic challenges facing it, the Vice President said the only solution to the problem was for the federal and state governments to look for alternative ways to develop the country other than relying on oil.

Osinbajo said, “No matter how we choose to deal with Nigerian problem, we will still have most of the problems in the states. Most of the revenues we have today are from the oil and taxes, so we have to depend far more than the resources available to us in the states.

“The Federal Government cannot rely on oil any longer. So it is time for both the Federal Government and state governments to look for ways to develop this country. We need to open our eyes for other opportunities other than relying on oil.”

He appealed to the elite in the country not to use politics, religion or ethnicity to divide Nigeria, saying Nigerian elites should rather show people how to live together in peace.

In his remarks, the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, called for the restructuring of the country, stressing that the future of the country was threatened by the current economic challenges in the country and only restructuring could solve the problem.

Mimiko who insisted that the country needed to adopt a true federal system of government called on the Federal Government to implement the recommendation of the 2014 national conference, which according to him contained solutions of the country’s problems.

Also speaking at the occasion, the visitor and founder of the Elizade University, Chief Michael Ade Ojo, said the institution was founded with the aim of producing quality graduates and be one of the best universities in the country in the nearest future.

Why we are not talking with Avengers

MILITANT vs BUHARI

 

Giving reason why the Federal Government was not holding talks with the Niger Delta Avengers on how to put an end to the bombing of pipelines, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said that they are not freedom fighters but economic warriors who are fighting for their own private pockets. Professor Osinbajo who delivered the second foundation lecture of Elizade University,Ilaramokin, Ondo state entitled “The Future is here earlier than we thought”, declared that “the so called avengers are not freedom fighters but fighting for their own economic benefits. They are avenging for their private pocket and that is why government is not talking with them”. The Vice President however said that the Federal Government has concluded arrangements to tackle the menace of pipeline vandalism in the Niger/Delta region. While condemning the activities of the militants who claimed responsibility for the vandalization of petroleum pipelines in the Niger/Delta region, said “the previous government neglected the region for several years, hence the current challenges in the region. The Federal Government has however put machinery in motion to curtail the activities of Niger/Delta Avengers”.He also lamented that the activities of the avengers were responsible for the epileptic power supply in the country as well as the inability of state governors to pay workers’ salaries due to the low revenue generated in the oil sector as a result of the attack on pipelines. Militants blow up more pipelines The NDA, however, continued its crippling attacks on the nation’s economy, blowing up the Nembe 1, 2 and 3 trunk lines in Bayelsa and Rivers states, in the early hours of Friday. The group, which maintained in an exclusive electronic mail to Saturday Vanguard that it would not beg government for dialogue, later on its website claimed responsibility for the attack, saying: “At about the of 3.00 am to 5.00 am, the Niger Delta Avenger blew up Nembe 1, 2, and 3 trunk-lines in Bayelsa/River States.” Its spokesperson, self-styled Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, asserted “We are using this medium to warn the general public of impostors’ Facebook accounts. Niger Delta Avenger is not on Social network anymore.” Saturday Vanguard, however, gathered that residents are worried that the rampaging militants vowed to attack and shoot villagers who dare to interrupt their operations. We’re waiting for Saudi mercenaries,——Avengers The Niger Delta Avengers, also yesterday, said it does not care if the Federal Government hires mercenaries from Saudi Arabia or anywhere to fight them. Reacting to online reports that the federal government had concluded agreement with Saudi authorities to deploy Saudi Blackwater mercenaries to the Niger Delta region to tackle militants that had been bombing oil facilities, spokesperson of the group, self-styled Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, told Saturday Vanguard that NDA was not perturbed. A staff in The Royal Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria supposedly confirmed the $280 million deal, as part of the agreement in the Saudi-led Islamic coalition against terrorism to Vaxity. Anwar Eshki, a retired Major General, in the Saudi armed forces is reportedly the head of Blackwater, which undertakes such assignments for the Saudi Arabian government. Militants vs Buhari Militants vs Buhari Niger Delta Avengers in its reaction, said: “The Niger Delta Avengers do not care if the federal government hires or concludes plans to bring in Bluewater, Graywater, Pinkwater, Whitewater or Blackwater mercenaries from Saudi Arabia. It is none of our business, the Saudi Arabia, has its own problem of terrorism, so coming here to help Nigerian government is funny. The Niger Delta region will win this war,” the group added. Foreign mercenaries will exacerbate crisis The Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, also responding to the alleged move by government to hire Saudi mercenaries, said: “We want to reiterate that bombing Niger Delta communities or wasting $258million to hire fighters to fight the Niger Delta Avengers will not stop Niger Delta quest for self-determination. Rather, it will aggravate and teach aggrieved youths better warfare and how to go about acquiring modern equipment to fight back tomorrow.” The group in a joint statement by the national president and spokesperson, Austin Ozobo and Daniel Ezekiel, said: “We wonder why the government is so bent on wasting such huge amount of money to hire fighters from Saudi Arabia to fight a region that has fed the country for the past 58 years. We are also surprised at the president’s decision to hire his Muslim allies to fight Niger Delta people.” It asked: “Why not Nigeria soldiers? What happened to the 100 gunboats, 5 warships and 3 fighter jets earlier deployed to the creeks to fight Niger Delta Avengers, which turned into a venture of intimidating innocent people and invading communities? Oil communities under threat- Mulade Concerned residents of the communities have meanwhile appealed to the militants to sheathe their swords, and for government to dialogue with the militants to end the attacks and clean up their environments. Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, who is also the chairman of Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu clan, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, said: “Niger Delta region has been turned into a battle ground as a result of confrontation between the military and militants.” “Oil communities are worried over the bastardization of the region by pipeline vandals, the current nefarious activities of the rampaging militants and the exploration and exploitative activities of the multinational oil companies.” “Well over 75 riverside communities are adversely affected by the unabated bombings by militants, illegal bunkering and oil theft as well as the failure of the multinational oil firms to adopt environmental best practices,” he added. The NGO asserted: “We believe that the federal government reprisal attacks on militants will further bastardize the region as the environment is the only heritage of the people and the future generation will suffer greatly if the environment is completely destroyed.” The center carpeted the International Oil Companies (IOCs) for starting the militarization of the region when they engaged military personnel to man key and strategic facilities, thereby .

Giving reason why the Federal Government was not holding talks with the Niger Delta Avengers on how to put an end to the bombing of pipelines, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said that they are not freedom fighters but economic warriors who are fighting for their own private pockets. Professor Osinbajo who delivered the second foundation lecture of Elizade University,Ilaramokin, Ondo state entitled “The Future is here earlier than we thought”, declared that “the so called avengers are not freedom fighters but fighting for their own economic benefits. They are avenging for their private pocket and that is why government is not talking with them”. The Vice President however said that the Federal Government has concluded arrangements to tackle the menace of pipeline vandalism in the Niger/Delta region. While condemning the activities of the militants who claimed responsibility for the vandalization of petroleum pipelines in the Niger/Delta region, said “the previous government neglected the region for several years, hence the current challenges in the region. The Federal Government has however put machinery in motion to curtail the activities of Niger/Delta Avengers”.He also lamented that the activities of the avengers were responsible for the epileptic power supply in the country as well as the inability of state governors to pay workers’ salaries due to the low revenue generated in the oil sector as a result of the attack on pipelines. Militants blow up more pipelines The NDA, however, continued its crippling attacks on the nation’s economy, blowing up the Nembe 1, 2 and 3 trunk lines in Bayelsa and Rivers states, in the early hours of Friday. The group, which maintained in an exclusive electronic mail to Saturday Vanguard that it would not beg government for dialogue, later on its website claimed responsibility for the attack, saying: “At about the of 3.00 am to 5.00 am, the Niger Delta Avenger blew up Nembe 1, 2, and 3 trunk-lines in Bayelsa/River States.” Its spokesperson, self-styled Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, asserted “We are using this medium to warn the general public of impostors’ Facebook accounts. Niger Delta Avenger is not on Social network anymore.” Saturday Vanguard, however, gathered that residents are worried that the rampaging militants vowed to attack and shoot villagers who dare to interrupt their operations. We’re waiting for Saudi mercenaries,——Avengers The Niger Delta Avengers, also yesterday, said it does not care if the Federal Government hires mercenaries from Saudi Arabia or anywhere to fight them. Reacting to online reports that the federal government had concluded agreement with Saudi authorities to deploy Saudi Blackwater mercenaries to the Niger Delta region to tackle militants that had been bombing oil facilities, spokesperson of the group, self-styled Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, told Saturday Vanguard that NDA was not perturbed. A staff in The Royal Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria supposedly confirmed the $280 million deal, as part of the agreement in the Saudi-led Islamic coalition against terrorism to Vaxity. Anwar Eshki, a retired Major General, in the Saudi armed forces is reportedly the head of Blackwater, which undertakes such assignments for the Saudi Arabian government. Militants vs Buhari Militants vs Buhari Niger Delta Avengers in its reaction, said: “The Niger Delta Avengers do not care if the federal government hires or concludes plans to bring in Bluewater, Graywater, Pinkwater, Whitewater or Blackwater mercenaries from Saudi Arabia. It is none of our business, the Saudi Arabia, has its own problem of terrorism, so coming here to help Nigerian government is funny. The Niger Delta region will win this war,” the group added. Foreign mercenaries will exacerbate crisis The Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, also responding to the alleged move by government to hire Saudi mercenaries, said: “We want to reiterate that bombing Niger Delta communities or wasting $258million to hire fighters to fight the Niger Delta Avengers will not stop Niger Delta quest for self-determination. Rather, it will aggravate and teach aggrieved youths better warfare and how to go about acquiring modern equipment to fight back tomorrow.” The group in a joint statement by the national president and spokesperson, Austin Ozobo and Daniel Ezekiel, said: “We wonder why the government is so bent on wasting such huge amount of money to hire fighters from Saudi Arabia to fight a region that has fed the country for the past 58 years. We are also surprised at the president’s decision to hire his Muslim allies to fight Niger Delta people.” It asked: “Why not Nigeria soldiers? What happened to the 100 gunboats, 5 warships and 3 fighter jets earlier deployed to the creeks to fight Niger Delta Avengers, which turned into a venture of intimidating innocent people and invading communities? Oil communities under threat- Mulade Concerned residents of the communities have meanwhile appealed to the militants to sheathe their swords, and for government to dialogue with the militants to end the attacks and clean up their environments. Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, who is also the chairman of Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu clan, Mr. Sheriff Mulade, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, said: “Niger Delta region has been turned into a battle ground as a result of confrontation between the military and militants.” “Oil communities are worried over the bastardization of the region by pipeline vandals, the current nefarious activities of the rampaging militants and the exploration and exploitative activities of the multinational oil companies.” “Well over 75 riverside communities are adversely affected by the unabated bombings by militants, illegal bunkering and oil theft as well as the failure of the multinational oil firms to adopt environmental best practices,” he added. The NGO asserted: “We believe that the federal government reprisal attacks on militants will further bastardize the region as the environment is the only heritage of the people and the future generation will suffer greatly if the environment is completely destroyed.” The center carpeted the International Oil Companies (IOCs) for starting the militarization of the region when they engaged military personnel to man key and strategic facilities, thereby

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/not-talking-avengers-fg/

Giving reason why the Federal Government was not holding talks with the Niger Delta Avengers on how to put an end to the bombing of pipelines, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said that they are not freedom fighters but economic warriors who are fighting for their own private pockets. Professor Osinbajo who delivered the second foundation lecture of Elizade University,Ilaramokin, Ondo state entitled “The Future is here earlier than we thought”, declared that “the so called avengers are not freedom fighters but fighting for their own economic benefits. They are avenging for their private pocket and that is why government is not talking with them”.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/not-talking-avengers-fg/

Giving reason why the Federal Government was not holding talks with the Niger Delta Avengers on how to put an end to the bombing of pipelines, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said that they are not freedom fighters but economic warriors who are fighting for their own private pockets. Professor Osinbajo who delivered the second foundation lecture of Elizade University,Ilaramokin, Ondo state entitled “The Future is here earlier than we thought”, declared that “the so called avengers are not freedom fighters but fighting for their own economic benefits. They are avenging for their private pocket and that is why government is not talking with them”. The Vice President however said that the Federal Government has concluded arrangements to tackle the menace of pipeline vandalism in the Niger/Delta region. While condemning the activities of the militants who claimed responsibility for the vandalization of petroleum pipelines in the Niger/Delta region, said “the previous government neglected the region for several years, hence the current challenges in the region. The Federal Government has however put machinery in motion to curtail the activities of Niger/Delta Avengers”.He also lamented that the activities of the avengers were responsible for the epileptic power supply in the country as well as the inability of state governors to pay workers’ salaries due to the low revenue generated in the oil sector as a result of the attack on pipelines. Militants blow up more pipelines The NDA, however, continued its crippling attacks on the nation’s economy, blowing up the Nembe 1, 2 and 3 trunk lines in Bayelsa and Rivers states, in the early hours of Friday. The group, which maintained in an exclusive electronic mail to Saturday Vanguard that it would not beg government for dialogue, later on its website claimed responsibility for the attack, saying: “At about the of 3.00 am to 5.00 am, the Niger Delta Avenger blew up Nembe 1, 2, and 3 trunk-lines in Bayelsa/River States.” Its spokesperson, self-styled Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, asserted “We are using this medium to warn the general public of impostors’ Facebook accounts. Niger Delta Avenger is not on Social network anymore.” Saturday Vanguard, however, gathered that residents are worried that the rampaging militants vowed to attack and shoot villagers who dare to interrupt their operations. We’re waiting for Saudi mercenaries,——Avengers The Niger Delta Avengers, also yesterday, said it does not care if the Federal Government hires mercenaries from Saudi Arabia or anywhere to fight them. Reacting to online reports that the federal government had concluded agreement with Saudi authorities to deploy Saudi Blackwater mercenaries to the Niger Delta region to tackle militants that had been bombing oil facilities, spokesperson of the group, self-styled Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, told Saturday Vanguard that NDA was not perturbed. A staff in The Royal Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria supposedly confirmed the $280 million deal, as part of the agreement in the Saudi-led Islamic coalition against terrorism to Vaxity. Anwar Eshki, a retired Major General, in the Saudi armed forces is reportedly the head of Blackwater, which undertakes such assignments for the Saudi Arabian government.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/not-talking-avengers-fg/

Giving reason why the Federal Government was not holding talks with the Niger Delta Avengers on how to put an end to the bombing of pipelines, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said that they are not freedom fighters but economic warriors who are fighting for their own private pockets. Professor Osinbajo who delivered the second foundation lecture of Elizade University,Ilaramokin, Ondo state entitled “The Future is here earlier than we thought”, declared that “the so called avengers are not freedom fighters but fighting for their own economic benefits. They are avenging for their private pocket and that is why government is not talking with them”. The Vice President however said that the Federal Government has concluded arrangements to tackle the menace of pipeline vandalism in the Niger/Delta region. While condemning the activities of the militants who claimed responsibility for the vandalization of petroleum pipelines in the Niger/Delta region, said “the previous government neglected the region for several years, hence the current challenges in the region. The Federal Government has however put machinery in motion to curtail the activities of Niger/Delta Avengers”.He also lamented that the activities of the avengers were responsible for the epileptic power supply in the country as well as the inability of state governors to pay workers’ salaries due to the low revenue generated in the oil sector as a result of the attack on pipelines. Militants blow up more pipelines The NDA, however, continued its crippling attacks on the nation’s economy, blowing up the Nembe 1, 2 and 3 trunk lines in Bayelsa and Rivers states, in the early hours of Friday. The group, which maintained in an exclusive electronic mail to Saturday Vanguard that it would not beg government for dialogue, later on its website claimed responsibility for the attack, saying: “At about the of 3.00 am to 5.00 am, the Niger Delta Avenger blew up Nembe 1, 2, and 3 trunk-lines in Bayelsa/River States.” Its spokesperson, self-styled Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, asserted “We are using this medium to warn the general public of impostors’ Facebook accounts. Niger Delta Avenger is not on Social network anymore.” Saturday Vanguard, however, gathered that residents are worried that the rampaging militants vowed to attack and shoot villagers who dare to interrupt their operations. We’re waiting for Saudi mercenaries,——Avengers The Niger Delta Avengers, also yesterday, said it does not care if the Federal Government hires mercenaries from Saudi Arabia or anywhere to fight them. Reacting to online reports that the federal government had concluded agreement with Saudi authorities to deploy Saudi Blackwater mercenaries to the Niger Delta region to tackle militants that had been bombing oil facilities, spokesperson of the group, self-styled Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, told Saturday Vanguard that NDA was not perturbed. A staff in The Royal Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria supposedly confirmed the $280 million deal, as part of the agreement in the Saudi-led Islamic coalition against terrorism to Vaxity. Anwar Eshki, a retired Major General, in the Saudi armed forces is reportedly the head of Blackwater, which undertakes such assignments for the Saudi Arabian government.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/not-talking-avengers-fg/

Deadly Niger Delta Avengers Strikes Again

    

Militants, suspected to be members of the Niger Delta Avengers, on Friday
morning, attacked and destroyed pipelines belonging to the Nigerian
Agip Oil Company in Bayelsa State. The militants reportedly struck at
between 3am and 5am and blew up Nembe 1, 2, 3 and Tebedaba Brass
  trunk-line in Bayelsa.
They were said to have arrived the affected areas on speedboats with two
double 200 horsepower engines. The militants, it was learnt, allegedly
engaged the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil De fence Corps,
Bayelsa State Command, in a gunbattle when they tried to stop them. 

The attacks were said to have occurred at Goulubukori manifold in
Nembe and Lagosgbene pipeline in Southern Ijaw near Ekeremor area of Bayelsa.
A source, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said a speedboat operated by NSCDC tried to dislodge the
militants to save the pipelines.
“The NSCDC engaged the saboteurs in a gun battle. There was a heavy
exchange of gunfire between them. But the militants were heavily armed and
many in number. They ensured that they destroyed the pipelines before
leaving,” the source said. But another source from Agip, who did
not want his name mentioned, described the attackers as “heavily
armed youths”.
He identified the damaged pipeline as the Tebidaba-Brass Agip pipeline,
saying that the facility was destroyed at three different points.
He said, “Reports from the swamp area indicate that last night and early hours
of Friday morning, a gang of heavily armed youths with two double 200hp
speedboats used explosives to destroy three different points on the Tebidaba-
Brass Agip pipelines.”
He further said Agip was about carrying out an operation to confirm
the affected areas and the magnitude of damage done to the pipelines. It was learnt that

 the impacted areas were raging with fire and thick smoke while crude oil spilled from the
ruptured pipeline was spreading around the environment.
The Commandant, NSCDC, Bayelsa Command, Mr. Desmond Agu,
confirmed the incident. Agu, who said his men exchanged
gunfire with the attackers, urged youths to stop destroying their
environment in the name of agitation.
He noted that any attack on a pipeline was an attack on the future survival of
the region.
The Commandant stated, “We are not relenting because we have the
mandate to protect all critical assets of the government within our areas of responsibility.
“We are asking troublemakers to leave the creeks and embrace peace. There
is no alternative to peace because without it there will be no development.”

The Niger Delta Avengers claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Agip pipelines on Friday.
In a statement from the NDA site, its spokesperson, ‘Brig.-Gen.’ Mudoch
Agbinibo, said, “At about 3am and 5am the Niger Delta Avengers blew up
Nembe 1, 2, 3 and Tebedaba Brass trunk-line in Bayelsa/River States.
“We are using this medium to warn the general public of impostors Facebook
accounts. Niger Delta Avenger is not in social network anymore.”
The group has claimed responsibilities for almost all the attacks on pipelines
and oil installations in the area.