Thursday, May 8, 2014
World Economic forum underway in Abuja, Nigeria
The World Economic Forum on Africa opened in Abuja, Nigeria, on Wednesday, with a focus on bilateral-relations and Intra-Africa-Trade. Various Presenters, made a case, for continued-political and economic-integration, within the continent, to realize the benefits, of a larger market.
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Boko Haram attack market - 150 dead
Nigeria's government has confirmed that suspected Islamist insurgents attacked a town in the north-east, massacring civilians during a busy market day.
Presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe told the BBC the official death toll was between 100 and 150.
Residents and the area's MP have said more than 300 residents died in Gamboru Ngala during the five-hour attack.
Mr Okupe said the country welcomed international support to defeat Boko Haram, but defended its record.
"We are even fighting a war that we have to limit and manage collateral damages - but the insurgents do not care," he told the BBC's Newsday programme.
"They can kill soldiers, they can kill villagers, but we cannot do that. And people must understand that, we have to fight this war within the rules of engagement that is accepted internationally."
Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, began its insurgency in Nigeria's north-eastern Borno state in 2009.
At least 1,200 people are estimated to have died in the violence and security crackdown this year alone.
International attention to the crisis has been galvanised by the kidnapping more than three weeks ago of more than 200 teenage girls from their school in Borno's Chibok town.
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived a shooting by Taliban insurgents, has said the world must not stay silent over the abduction.
She told the BBC that "if we remain silent then this will spread, this will happen more and more and more".
Former UN chief Kofi Annan also appealed for action. He criticised both the Nigerian government and other African nations for not reacting faster to the kidnapping, and called on them to use whatever was at their disposal to help free the girls.
The abduction of the girls has overshadowed the World Economic Forum which opened in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Wednesday evening.
The US, UK and France have despatched teams of experts to Nigeria to help recover the girls.
'Diversion'
The town of Gamboru Ngala, near the border with Cameroon, was crowded with traders for the market day on Monday when the suspect Islamists militants attacked.
Senator Ahmed Zanna told the BBC's Hausa service that they arrived in a convoy of vehicles, shooting, stealing food and motorbikes and burning hundreds of cars and buildings during their rampage.
Another resident said they were shouting "Allahu Akbar [God is great]".
The militants had used a diversionary tactic to get the security forces out of Gamboru Ngala by spreading rumours that the abducted schoolgirls had been spotted somewhere else, Mr Zanna and several residents said.
A resident of Gamboru Ngala told the BBC that 310 people had been buried on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"At the big cemetery of Gamboru Ngala, I recorded 165 buried. At the small graveyard, I recorded 145 graves. But we are still picking corpses from the main market," he said.
"Many people locked themselves up in the market when the attacks started so they got burnt in their shops."
Correspondents say it often takes time for news of such attacks to spread as mobile phone networks can be affected by the security crackdown in the region.
BBC
Related stories: Video - Wole Soyinka on CNN discussing state of Nigeria, Boko Haram and the kidnapped school girls
Video - 19 people killed by car bomb attack in Abuja, Nigeria
Video - Fatality count in Abuja bomb blast rises to 75
Presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe told the BBC the official death toll was between 100 and 150.
Residents and the area's MP have said more than 300 residents died in Gamboru Ngala during the five-hour attack.
Mr Okupe said the country welcomed international support to defeat Boko Haram, but defended its record.
"We are even fighting a war that we have to limit and manage collateral damages - but the insurgents do not care," he told the BBC's Newsday programme.
"They can kill soldiers, they can kill villagers, but we cannot do that. And people must understand that, we have to fight this war within the rules of engagement that is accepted internationally."
Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, began its insurgency in Nigeria's north-eastern Borno state in 2009.
At least 1,200 people are estimated to have died in the violence and security crackdown this year alone.
International attention to the crisis has been galvanised by the kidnapping more than three weeks ago of more than 200 teenage girls from their school in Borno's Chibok town.
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived a shooting by Taliban insurgents, has said the world must not stay silent over the abduction.
She told the BBC that "if we remain silent then this will spread, this will happen more and more and more".
Former UN chief Kofi Annan also appealed for action. He criticised both the Nigerian government and other African nations for not reacting faster to the kidnapping, and called on them to use whatever was at their disposal to help free the girls.
The abduction of the girls has overshadowed the World Economic Forum which opened in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Wednesday evening.
The US, UK and France have despatched teams of experts to Nigeria to help recover the girls.
'Diversion'
The town of Gamboru Ngala, near the border with Cameroon, was crowded with traders for the market day on Monday when the suspect Islamists militants attacked.
Senator Ahmed Zanna told the BBC's Hausa service that they arrived in a convoy of vehicles, shooting, stealing food and motorbikes and burning hundreds of cars and buildings during their rampage.
Another resident said they were shouting "Allahu Akbar [God is great]".
The militants had used a diversionary tactic to get the security forces out of Gamboru Ngala by spreading rumours that the abducted schoolgirls had been spotted somewhere else, Mr Zanna and several residents said.
A resident of Gamboru Ngala told the BBC that 310 people had been buried on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"At the big cemetery of Gamboru Ngala, I recorded 165 buried. At the small graveyard, I recorded 145 graves. But we are still picking corpses from the main market," he said.
"Many people locked themselves up in the market when the attacks started so they got burnt in their shops."
Correspondents say it often takes time for news of such attacks to spread as mobile phone networks can be affected by the security crackdown in the region.
BBC
Related stories: Video - Wole Soyinka on CNN discussing state of Nigeria, Boko Haram and the kidnapped school girls
Video - 19 people killed by car bomb attack in Abuja, Nigeria
Video - Fatality count in Abuja bomb blast rises to 75
Canada offers assistance in finding the kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria
Canada will provide Nigeria with surveillance equipment to help locate more than 270 schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamic insurgents who have been terrorized the African country for more than five years.
Jason MacDonald, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said in an email that Canada will also provide “the technical expertise” to operate the equipment.
The government responded Wednesday to a report that Nigeria was asking Canada’s help in the hunt for the missing girls.
During question period, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said any equipment that goes to Nigeria would be accompanied by Canadian military personnel to operate it.
"We've offered support to the Nigerian government. If Canada has surveillance equipment that is not in the region that could provide assistance to find these young girls, we'd obviously be pleased to provide it," he said Wednesday.
"What we do have a concern is we will not hand over military equipment unless we can send the Canadians who can properly operate it."
Outside the House of Commons, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair told reporters: “Whatever Canada can do in the way of personnel and equipment, we should do.”
Nigerian Vice-President Namadi Sambo said the government “was anxious to put an end to the menace” of a five-year Islamic insurgency led by terror group Boko Haram that has killed more than 1,500 people so far this year alone. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, and its leader has threatened to sell the girls into slavery.
According to a Nigerian media report, Sambo said that "'as we approach elections, we should not play politics with serious matters of state such as security,' and pleaded for support and assistance from Canada in areas of surveillance equipment and other vital security hardware" to help Nigeria address the insurgency.
Sambo made his comments when Canadian International Development Minister Christian Paradis was in his office in the capital of Abuja, according to the report.
In addition to issues regarding security, the two discussed maternal and child health, resource development, and the upcoming general election in Nigeria in 2015, the report said.
NDP MP Paul Dewar requested an emergency debate on the issue on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the U.S. government announced that it will send military personnel and law enforcement officials to assist with the investigation into the kidnapped 276 schoolgirls, who have been missing for three weeks.
Mike Baker, a former covert operations officer with the CIA, said the fact that the Nigerian government is finally willing to accept outside help in dealing with the insurgency is a step in the right direction.
But a team of U.S. investigators and hostage negotiators is not going to “solve the problem,” Baker told CTV News Channel on Wednesday.
“There has to be a stepped-up effort to actually resolve this and try to minimize the impact of this organization,” Baker said from Boise, Idaho. “Right now they are just running amok, particularly in the northeast areas.”
Last December, Canada listed Boko Haram as a terrorist organization. Under the Criminal Code, it is illegal to be a member of, or transfer money to, the group.
CTV
Related stories: France to join US in help to find more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria
US to help Nigerian government rescue kidnapped schoolgirls
Video - President Goodluck Jonathan makes public address on kidnapped schoolgirls
Jason MacDonald, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said in an email that Canada will also provide “the technical expertise” to operate the equipment.
The government responded Wednesday to a report that Nigeria was asking Canada’s help in the hunt for the missing girls.
During question period, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said any equipment that goes to Nigeria would be accompanied by Canadian military personnel to operate it.
"We've offered support to the Nigerian government. If Canada has surveillance equipment that is not in the region that could provide assistance to find these young girls, we'd obviously be pleased to provide it," he said Wednesday.
"What we do have a concern is we will not hand over military equipment unless we can send the Canadians who can properly operate it."
Outside the House of Commons, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair told reporters: “Whatever Canada can do in the way of personnel and equipment, we should do.”
Nigerian Vice-President Namadi Sambo said the government “was anxious to put an end to the menace” of a five-year Islamic insurgency led by terror group Boko Haram that has killed more than 1,500 people so far this year alone. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, and its leader has threatened to sell the girls into slavery.
According to a Nigerian media report, Sambo said that "'as we approach elections, we should not play politics with serious matters of state such as security,' and pleaded for support and assistance from Canada in areas of surveillance equipment and other vital security hardware" to help Nigeria address the insurgency.
Sambo made his comments when Canadian International Development Minister Christian Paradis was in his office in the capital of Abuja, according to the report.
In addition to issues regarding security, the two discussed maternal and child health, resource development, and the upcoming general election in Nigeria in 2015, the report said.
NDP MP Paul Dewar requested an emergency debate on the issue on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the U.S. government announced that it will send military personnel and law enforcement officials to assist with the investigation into the kidnapped 276 schoolgirls, who have been missing for three weeks.
Mike Baker, a former covert operations officer with the CIA, said the fact that the Nigerian government is finally willing to accept outside help in dealing with the insurgency is a step in the right direction.
But a team of U.S. investigators and hostage negotiators is not going to “solve the problem,” Baker told CTV News Channel on Wednesday.
“There has to be a stepped-up effort to actually resolve this and try to minimize the impact of this organization,” Baker said from Boise, Idaho. “Right now they are just running amok, particularly in the northeast areas.”
Last December, Canada listed Boko Haram as a terrorist organization. Under the Criminal Code, it is illegal to be a member of, or transfer money to, the group.
CTV
Related stories: France to join US in help to find more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria
US to help Nigerian government rescue kidnapped schoolgirls
Video - President Goodluck Jonathan makes public address on kidnapped schoolgirls
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Video - World Economic Forum focuses on Africa
This year's theme, for the World Economic Forum on Africa, is "Forging Inclusive Growth and Creating Jobs" Two issues that are critically affecting Nigeria, the host country for the Forum. The Nigerian government says, it is working, on ways, to resolve the unemployment problem, but some analysts say, the approach being used, is defective.
Related stories: Video - Security tightened in Abuja, Nigeria ahead of World Economic Forum
Video - Nigeria is now Africa's biggest economy
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