Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Video - Thousands of Nigerians flee Nigeria
Boko Haram crisis has been directly affecting Cameroon as well. The number of Nigerian refugees in the country has quadrupled. We take you to a camp in Maroua in the north of the country.
Boko Haram kidnap 20 in cameroon
Suspected militants from Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram have hijacked a bus in northern Cameroon, abducting at least 20 people, residents say.
Militants reportedly seized a bus carrying market-goers and drove it toward the border with Nigeria.
Some reports put the total number kidnapped in Cameroon as high as 30.
Boko Haram has escalated its attacks outside Nigeria in recent weeks, targeting neighbouring Cameroon and Niger.
The insurgency has forced a postponement of Nigeria's presidential and parliamentary elections from 14 February to 28 March.
The bus was seized near the border area of Koza and driven towards the Nigerian border 18km (11 miles) away, a resident told the Associated Press news agency.Prison attacked
In an apparently related incident, several Boko Haram fighters were killed and around 10 Cameroonian soldiers injured as the militants attacked Kerawa, a local journalist told the BBC.
A separate group of fighters reportedly attacked the nearby town of Kolofata, looting food and livestock.
The attacks in Cameroon follow a series of assaults on the border towns of Bosso and Diffa in Niger.
Boko Haram militants targeted a prison in Diffa on Monday but were repelled by soldiers from Niger and Chad.
Diffa was also targeted by a car bomb which exploded near a market, news agencies reported, citing residents and military sources. A local journalist in Diffa told AFP he counted one dead and 15 injured.
Niger's parliament is due to vote on Monday on contributing 700 troops to a regional force battling to regain territory from Boko Haram ahead of Nigeria's rescheduled elections.
Abbo Moro, Nigeria's interior minister, told the BBC he believes the fight against the militant group will be successful enough for the elections to go ahead.
Elections for state governors and assemblies slated for 28 February have also been moved to 11 April.
BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says many observers in the country see the delay as a political move aimed at helping the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Uncertainty over the election is also having economic repercussions, our reporter says, with Nigeria's currency the naira falling to a record low on Monday.
The Boko Haram insurgency has caused more than 1.5 million people to flee their homes.
On Saturday, Nigeria and the governments of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin agreed to establish a force of 8,700 troops, police and civilians to fight the group.
BBC
Militants reportedly seized a bus carrying market-goers and drove it toward the border with Nigeria.
Some reports put the total number kidnapped in Cameroon as high as 30.
Boko Haram has escalated its attacks outside Nigeria in recent weeks, targeting neighbouring Cameroon and Niger.
The insurgency has forced a postponement of Nigeria's presidential and parliamentary elections from 14 February to 28 March.
The bus was seized near the border area of Koza and driven towards the Nigerian border 18km (11 miles) away, a resident told the Associated Press news agency.Prison attacked
In an apparently related incident, several Boko Haram fighters were killed and around 10 Cameroonian soldiers injured as the militants attacked Kerawa, a local journalist told the BBC.
A separate group of fighters reportedly attacked the nearby town of Kolofata, looting food and livestock.
The attacks in Cameroon follow a series of assaults on the border towns of Bosso and Diffa in Niger.
Boko Haram militants targeted a prison in Diffa on Monday but were repelled by soldiers from Niger and Chad.
Diffa was also targeted by a car bomb which exploded near a market, news agencies reported, citing residents and military sources. A local journalist in Diffa told AFP he counted one dead and 15 injured.
Niger's parliament is due to vote on Monday on contributing 700 troops to a regional force battling to regain territory from Boko Haram ahead of Nigeria's rescheduled elections.
Abbo Moro, Nigeria's interior minister, told the BBC he believes the fight against the militant group will be successful enough for the elections to go ahead.
Elections for state governors and assemblies slated for 28 February have also been moved to 11 April.
BBC Nigeria correspondent Will Ross says many observers in the country see the delay as a political move aimed at helping the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Uncertainty over the election is also having economic repercussions, our reporter says, with Nigeria's currency the naira falling to a record low on Monday.
The Boko Haram insurgency has caused more than 1.5 million people to flee their homes.
On Saturday, Nigeria and the governments of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin agreed to establish a force of 8,700 troops, police and civilians to fight the group.
BBC
Monday, February 9, 2015
Video - Al Jazeera talks with Nigeria Presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari
Nigeria's main opposition leader shares his views on the postponed vote, Boko Haram, and challenges facing his country.
Related stories: Video - Presidential candidate General Buhari promises to tackle Boko Haram and corruption
Nigeria presidential elections postponed for six weeks due to Boko Haram
U.S. dissapointed with Nigeria presidential election delay
United States has expressed disappointment over the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the February polls to March.
In a statement issued in Washington, the Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. was “deeply disappointed” by Nigeria’s decision to delay the election. “Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process,” Kerry said.
He visited Nigeria on Jan. 25, urging the People Democratic Party presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress party presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to prevent potential post-election violence by their supporters. The statement read:
“The United States is deeply disappointed by the decision to postpone Nigeria’s presidential election, which had been scheduled for February 14. Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process.
“The international community will be watching closely as the Nigerian government prepares for elections on the newly scheduled dates. The United States underscores the importance of ensuring that there are no further delays.
“As I reaffirmed when I visited Lagos last month, we support a free, transparent, and credible electoral process in Nigeria and renew our calls on all candidates, their supporters, and Nigerian citizens to maintain calm and reject election-related violence.”
The Sun
Related story: Nigeria presidential elections postponed for six weeks due to Boko Haram
In a statement issued in Washington, the Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. was “deeply disappointed” by Nigeria’s decision to delay the election. “Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process,” Kerry said.
He visited Nigeria on Jan. 25, urging the People Democratic Party presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress party presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to prevent potential post-election violence by their supporters. The statement read:
“The United States is deeply disappointed by the decision to postpone Nigeria’s presidential election, which had been scheduled for February 14. Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process.
“The international community will be watching closely as the Nigerian government prepares for elections on the newly scheduled dates. The United States underscores the importance of ensuring that there are no further delays.
“As I reaffirmed when I visited Lagos last month, we support a free, transparent, and credible electoral process in Nigeria and renew our calls on all candidates, their supporters, and Nigerian citizens to maintain calm and reject election-related violence.”
The Sun
Related story: Nigeria presidential elections postponed for six weeks due to Boko Haram
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Video - Presidential candidate General Buhari promises to tackle Boko Haram and corruption
As the presidential vote approaches there are concerns over mounting tensions especially considering Nigeria's post election history. In 2011, 800 people died from violence instigated by campaigns. President Goodluck Jonathan's main challenger Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress has, however pledged to follow due legal process to challenge the election outcome should he lose. He also promises that his administration will tackle the Boko Haram insurgency and end corruption and theft in the oil sector.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)