Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked his military high command, his spokesman Reuben Abati has said.
No reason was given but the dismissals come amid growing concern about the military's failure to end the Islamist-led insurgency in northern Nigeria.
Mr Abati said Air Marshal Alex Badeh replaces Admiral Ola Ibrahim as the new chief of defence staff, the most senior post in the military.
Boko Haram has been waging a four-year insurgency in Nigeria.
Mr Jonathan imposed a state of emergency in three northern states in May 2013, giving the military wide-ranging powers to end the insurgency.
'Tradition of sackings'
However, Boko Haram has continued with its campaign of violence - including attacks on two military barracks and an air base last month.
On Tuesday, the group carried out a car bomb attack in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, killing at least 17 people.
United Nations figures suggest more than 1,200 people have been killed in Islamist-related violence since the state of emergency started.
Mr Abati said the new appointments would come into effect immediately.
The president had briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the changes "and will, in keeping with the provisions of the law, request the National Assembly to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes", he added.
Mr Jonathan also appointed a new chief of army staff, replacing Lt Gen Azubike Ihejirika with Maj Gen Tobiah Minimah.
Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as chief of naval staff and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as chief of air staff.
BBC Nigeria analyst Naziru Mikailu says Mr Jonathan's decision does not come as a complete surprise because there is a tradition in Nigeria of sacking military chiefs.
It seems Mr Jonathan wants to show he is in charge, at a time when his leadership is being increasingly questioned within the governing People's Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2015 elections, our correspondent adds.
Last month, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo called on Mr Jonathan not to seek re-election, accusing him of failing to tackle Nigeria's many problems - including the Islamist insurgency, poverty and corruption.
BBC
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
President Goodluck Jonathan's photographer shot
President Goodluck Jonathan’s official photographer, Mr. Callistus Ewelike, was on Monday night shot by unknown gunmen in Abuja.
Ewelike, a photojournalist with the News Agency of Nigeria is attached to the State House, Abuja, and he is currently acting as the President’s official photographer.
The father of two was reportedly shot at a close range in front of his house in Nyanya in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, between 10pm and 11pm.
He was said to be returning to his house after filing the photographs he took during Jonathan’s visit to Shape Community in the FCT, where the President inaugurated the Operation Light Up Rural Nigeria Project when the incident happened.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that the attack was carried out by two men on a motorcycle.
The eyewitness said, “The two men were apparently waiting for him at his residence. While one of them was on the motorbike, the guy who pulled the trigger was standing, waiting for him.
“As the victim parked his car and was making his way into his house, the armed man shot him in the neck at a close range. The gunshot attracted some residents of the area, so the two men quickly sped off on the motorbike.”
No personal belonging was stolen from the victim.
Ewelike was rushed by his neighbours to the National Hospital, Abuja, where medical doctors as of Tuesday were attending to him.
Our correspondent visited the victim at the hospital on Tuesday.
A source in the hospital said the x-ray conducted on the photographer showed that the bullet that entered through his neck was lodged at a spot close to his shoulder.
Armed men had also visited Ewelike’s residence few weeks back.
They left with his working tools, including his camera and a laptop and a few other personal effects.
Our correspondent learnt that security agents were already investigating the attempt on Ewelike’s life.
The Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, Altine Daniel, on Tuesday confirmed the incident.
Daniel said the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Femi Ogunbayide, had directed that full scale investigation be carried out on the case.
PUNCH
Ewelike, a photojournalist with the News Agency of Nigeria is attached to the State House, Abuja, and he is currently acting as the President’s official photographer.
The father of two was reportedly shot at a close range in front of his house in Nyanya in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, between 10pm and 11pm.
He was said to be returning to his house after filing the photographs he took during Jonathan’s visit to Shape Community in the FCT, where the President inaugurated the Operation Light Up Rural Nigeria Project when the incident happened.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that the attack was carried out by two men on a motorcycle.
The eyewitness said, “The two men were apparently waiting for him at his residence. While one of them was on the motorbike, the guy who pulled the trigger was standing, waiting for him.
“As the victim parked his car and was making his way into his house, the armed man shot him in the neck at a close range. The gunshot attracted some residents of the area, so the two men quickly sped off on the motorbike.”
No personal belonging was stolen from the victim.
Ewelike was rushed by his neighbours to the National Hospital, Abuja, where medical doctors as of Tuesday were attending to him.
Our correspondent visited the victim at the hospital on Tuesday.
A source in the hospital said the x-ray conducted on the photographer showed that the bullet that entered through his neck was lodged at a spot close to his shoulder.
Armed men had also visited Ewelike’s residence few weeks back.
They left with his working tools, including his camera and a laptop and a few other personal effects.
Our correspondent learnt that security agents were already investigating the attempt on Ewelike’s life.
The Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, Altine Daniel, on Tuesday confirmed the incident.
Daniel said the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Femi Ogunbayide, had directed that full scale investigation be carried out on the case.
PUNCH
Video - CNN covers anti-gay law in Nigeria
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has signed a law banning same-sex marriage.
Related stories:
92 percent of Nigerians support anit-gay law
Wole Soyinka advises anti-gay bill legislators to go back to school
Dozens arrested in Nigeria after anti-gay law passes
Dozens of gay men are reported to have been arrested across northern Nigeria as police begin to enforce punitive new laws that criminalise same-sex marriages and membership of gay rights organisations.
The legislation, condemned by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and human rights groups in Europe, has come into force shortly after the Ugandan parliament passed an Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Last week Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which provides penalties of up to 14 years in jail for a gay marriage and up to 10 years' imprisonment for membership or encouragement of gay clubs, societies and organisations.
His spokesman, Reuben Abati, said: "This is a law that is in line with the people's cultural and religious inclination. So it is a law that is a reflection of the beliefs and orientation of Nigerian people … Nigerians are pleased with it."
Dorothy Aken'Ova, executive director of the country's International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights, said that the legislation, hailed the "Jail the Gays" law, had led to mass arrests. Police in Bauchi state, she claimed, had a list of 168 purportedly gay men, of whom 38 had been arrested.
The laws, she cautioned, will endanger medical programmes combating HIV-Aids in the gay community. Nigeria has the second-largest HIV epidemic globally with an estimated 3.4 million people living with HIV.
Responding to the spread of anti-gay legislation,Kerry said: "The United States is deeply concerned by Nigeria's enactment of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. Beyond even prohibiting same-sex marriage, this law dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association and expression for all Nigerians.
"[The law] is inconsistent with Nigeria's international legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights protections enshrined in its 1999 constitution," he added.
"People everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality. No one should face violence or discrimination for who they are or who they love."
The London-based Human Dignity Trust, which supports legal actions around the world aimed at overturning anti-gay legislation, criticised both the Nigerian and Ugandan acts.
Jonathan Cooper, the trust's chief executive, has described the Ugandan legislation as "a bleak day for human rights. The bill undermines Uganda's human rights protection, breaches its international treaty obligations and violates Uganda's own constitution".
One of the men whose legal challenges the trust supported, Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, 34, died this week after being removed from hospital by his family. He had been jailed in Cameroon for sending a text message to another man saying: "I'm very much in love with you".
Mbede, whose case was highlighted by the Guardian in 2012, was subsequently declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.
His lawyer, Alice Nkom, said: "[Mbede's] family said he was a curse for them and that we should let him die."
Guardian
Related stories: Law against homesexuality passes into law today in Nigeria
92 percent of Nigerians support anit-gay law
Wole Soyinka advises anti-gay bill legislators to go back to school
Being gay in Nigeria
The legislation, condemned by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and human rights groups in Europe, has come into force shortly after the Ugandan parliament passed an Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Last week Nigeria's president, Goodluck Jonathan, signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which provides penalties of up to 14 years in jail for a gay marriage and up to 10 years' imprisonment for membership or encouragement of gay clubs, societies and organisations.
His spokesman, Reuben Abati, said: "This is a law that is in line with the people's cultural and religious inclination. So it is a law that is a reflection of the beliefs and orientation of Nigerian people … Nigerians are pleased with it."
Dorothy Aken'Ova, executive director of the country's International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights, said that the legislation, hailed the "Jail the Gays" law, had led to mass arrests. Police in Bauchi state, she claimed, had a list of 168 purportedly gay men, of whom 38 had been arrested.
The laws, she cautioned, will endanger medical programmes combating HIV-Aids in the gay community. Nigeria has the second-largest HIV epidemic globally with an estimated 3.4 million people living with HIV.
Responding to the spread of anti-gay legislation,Kerry said: "The United States is deeply concerned by Nigeria's enactment of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. Beyond even prohibiting same-sex marriage, this law dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association and expression for all Nigerians.
"[The law] is inconsistent with Nigeria's international legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights protections enshrined in its 1999 constitution," he added.
"People everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality. No one should face violence or discrimination for who they are or who they love."
The London-based Human Dignity Trust, which supports legal actions around the world aimed at overturning anti-gay legislation, criticised both the Nigerian and Ugandan acts.
Jonathan Cooper, the trust's chief executive, has described the Ugandan legislation as "a bleak day for human rights. The bill undermines Uganda's human rights protection, breaches its international treaty obligations and violates Uganda's own constitution".
One of the men whose legal challenges the trust supported, Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, 34, died this week after being removed from hospital by his family. He had been jailed in Cameroon for sending a text message to another man saying: "I'm very much in love with you".
Mbede, whose case was highlighted by the Guardian in 2012, was subsequently declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.
His lawyer, Alice Nkom, said: "[Mbede's] family said he was a curse for them and that we should let him die."
Guardian
Related stories: Law against homesexuality passes into law today in Nigeria
92 percent of Nigerians support anit-gay law
Wole Soyinka advises anti-gay bill legislators to go back to school
Being gay in Nigeria
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Car bomb hits Maiduguri
A car bomb has exploded in the north-eastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, and there are fears of many casualties.
Reports say a second car was set on fire by the blast. Blood-spattered people were seen fleeing and vehicles crashed into each other as they tried to leave, while soldiers fired automatic weapons.
A suicide bomber is suspected of being behind the blast.
The Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, is active in the region.
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Reports say a second car was set on fire by the blast. Blood-spattered people were seen fleeing and vehicles crashed into each other as they tried to leave, while soldiers fired automatic weapons.
A suicide bomber is suspected of being behind the blast.
The Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, is active in the region.
PUNCH
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