Islamist Boko Haram militants disguised as preachers killed at least 24 people and wounded several others in an attack near a mosque in northeast Nigeria's Borno state, a military source and witness said on Monday.
The attackers arrived in cars late on Sunday and gathered people at a mosque in the remote village of Kwajafa, pretending to preach Islam. They then opened fire on them, witness Simeon Buba said.
The group's six-year insurgency, and President Goodluck Jonathan's failure to end it or protect civilians, were factors in the victory of opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari in last week's election.
The group fighting for an Islamic state has killed thousands and kidnapped hundreds, although a military operation against them by Nigeria and neighbors Chad, Cameroon and Niger in the past two months has wrested back much of the territory it controlled.
"People didn't know the Boko Haram men came for attack because they lied to our people that they came for preaching," said Buba in a telephone conversation.
"They opened fire on them and killed many people," he said, adding that houses were set on fire.
Some people were being treated for gunshot wounds and burns at a hospital in the Borno state town of Biu on Monday, a source there said.
Reuters
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Monday, April 6, 2015
Video - Nigeria's President elect Muhammadu Buhari urged to rescue kidnapped schoolgirls
Campaigners pushing for the rescue of 219 girls kidnapped in Chibok have stepped-up pressure on Nigeria's President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to make their safe return a top priority of his new government.
Nigerian gay rights activist loses asylum battle in the U.K.
Prominent United Kingdom-based Nigerian lesbian and gay rights activist, Aderonke Apata, had her lengthy legal tussle to claim asylum in the country thrown out of the highest court of the land, the Royal Courts of Justice, RCJ, on Wednesday.
Justice John Bowers QC (Queen's Counsel, equivalent of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN) dismissed her appeal, on the grounds of dishonesty, her criminality and that she is not actually a lesbian, even though she might have engaged in same sex relationship and gone further to produce DVDs of herself engaging in lesbianism with her partner, Happiness.
Apata, twice married and mother of two, was told by the judge that he would have to agree with the March 3 submissions of the State lawyer, Andrew Bird, who argued that the ruling and findings of the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) in 2012, are binding on the RCJ, because FTT is the one charged by Parliament with the jurisdiction to make fact findings and also equipped to do so by means of the facility to hear oral evidence and cross- examination. Bowers took sides with the submission , despite Apata's lawyer arguing to the contrary during the said hearing on March 3.
In handing down Wednesday's ruling, which Apata misled activists not to attend, Bowers made reference to Bird's submission that: "The Secretary of State contends that the Claimant has, for 10 years, played the system by repeated and different applications, dishonesty made and that ' she has ... ..made false asylum claims. She has pursued an appeal claiming that she was in a subsisting relationship with an EEA national, when she was not. She overstayed, worked illegally and studied illegally" as the FTT concluded at paragraph 114."
Even though Apata's lawyer had submitted to the court that she faces the risk of persecution and imprisonment if returned to Nigeria, because of last year's Anti- LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transexuals) Law, the judge is of the view that she is not actually a lesbian, and as such, is not covered by the Refugee Convention Article 1A (2). Bowers cited Bird's submission of the FTT ruling, which said, " we have concluded that the (Claimant's) change of image is entirely due to a false claim of lesbian sexuality... ... Despite claiming that she cannot bear to be in a relationship with a man, she has engaged in long-term relationships with Mr. Alima and Mr. Bamidele (both European nationals) and has declared her love and commitment to them openly in letters ... "
Her case on the grounds of Human Rights and fear of persecution were also dismissed, so also was it dismissed on the basis of having a mental illness -- and that she won't get adequate medical treatment in Nigeria, if deported. When The Guardian contacted Apata on Saturday, for her reaction, she didn't reply the correspondence. However, prominent black gay activists, including Davis Mac-Iyalla, have reacted to the ruling after The Guardian contacted them at the weekend.
Mac-Iyalla, an openly gay Nigerian in London, said, "I have always known that asylum is not for everyone, but those who are honest and are at risks should be given protection."
Black Pride's lady Phyl Opoku, also spoke to The Guardian, but was of the view that Apata is, indeed, an activist. Of the ruling, she said, "this is very sad and disappointing," because Apata " has been graceful and very visible in our (LGBT) community.
The Guardian
Related story: Gay Activist confronts Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan on Homophobic Law
Justice John Bowers QC (Queen's Counsel, equivalent of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN) dismissed her appeal, on the grounds of dishonesty, her criminality and that she is not actually a lesbian, even though she might have engaged in same sex relationship and gone further to produce DVDs of herself engaging in lesbianism with her partner, Happiness.
Apata, twice married and mother of two, was told by the judge that he would have to agree with the March 3 submissions of the State lawyer, Andrew Bird, who argued that the ruling and findings of the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) in 2012, are binding on the RCJ, because FTT is the one charged by Parliament with the jurisdiction to make fact findings and also equipped to do so by means of the facility to hear oral evidence and cross- examination. Bowers took sides with the submission , despite Apata's lawyer arguing to the contrary during the said hearing on March 3.
In handing down Wednesday's ruling, which Apata misled activists not to attend, Bowers made reference to Bird's submission that: "The Secretary of State contends that the Claimant has, for 10 years, played the system by repeated and different applications, dishonesty made and that ' she has ... ..made false asylum claims. She has pursued an appeal claiming that she was in a subsisting relationship with an EEA national, when she was not. She overstayed, worked illegally and studied illegally" as the FTT concluded at paragraph 114."
Even though Apata's lawyer had submitted to the court that she faces the risk of persecution and imprisonment if returned to Nigeria, because of last year's Anti- LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transexuals) Law, the judge is of the view that she is not actually a lesbian, and as such, is not covered by the Refugee Convention Article 1A (2). Bowers cited Bird's submission of the FTT ruling, which said, " we have concluded that the (Claimant's) change of image is entirely due to a false claim of lesbian sexuality... ... Despite claiming that she cannot bear to be in a relationship with a man, she has engaged in long-term relationships with Mr. Alima and Mr. Bamidele (both European nationals) and has declared her love and commitment to them openly in letters ... "
Her case on the grounds of Human Rights and fear of persecution were also dismissed, so also was it dismissed on the basis of having a mental illness -- and that she won't get adequate medical treatment in Nigeria, if deported. When The Guardian contacted Apata on Saturday, for her reaction, she didn't reply the correspondence. However, prominent black gay activists, including Davis Mac-Iyalla, have reacted to the ruling after The Guardian contacted them at the weekend.
Mac-Iyalla, an openly gay Nigerian in London, said, "I have always known that asylum is not for everyone, but those who are honest and are at risks should be given protection."
Black Pride's lady Phyl Opoku, also spoke to The Guardian, but was of the view that Apata is, indeed, an activist. Of the ruling, she said, "this is very sad and disappointing," because Apata " has been graceful and very visible in our (LGBT) community.
The Guardian
Related story: Gay Activist confronts Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan on Homophobic Law
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Video - President elect Muhammadu Buhari's profile
It's his fourth attempt, and Muhammadu Buhari has finally made it to the Nigerian presidency - but who is the general? Susan Mwongeli takes a look at Nigeria's incoming president.
Nigeria President elect Muhammadu Buhari to "spare no effort" squashing Boko Haram
A day after becoming the first politician in Nigerian history to succeed a sitting leader by ballot, president-elect Muhammadu Buhari promised on Wednesday to "spare no effort" to defeat Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
The 72-year-old general, who first came to power three decades ago via a military coup and campaigned as a born-again democrat, also promised to tackle graft in Africa's largest economy.
"Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will. We should spare no effort," Buhari said in his first formal speech since winning the election. "In tackling the insurgency, we have a tough and urgent job to do."
The group has killed thousands in its push to carve out a caliphate in northeastern Nigeria.
Despite the killing of more than a dozen voters by Boko Haram gunmen - who had pledged to derail the poll - the election was one of the most orderly in Nigeria's history.
Buhari won the election with 15.4 million votes to outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan's 13.3 million, a margin wide enough to prevent any challenge.
In an unprecedented step, Jonathan phoned Buhari to concede defeat and urged his supporters to accept the result, a signal of deepening democracy that few had expected in Africa's most populous nation.
Buhari congratulated Jonathan for peacefully relinquishing power on Wednesday.
"President Jonathan was a worthy opponent and I extend the hand of fellowship to him," Buhari, wearing a black cap and kaftan, told reporters and supporters to loud applause.
"We have proven to the world that we are people who have embraced democracy. We have put one-party state behind us."
The rules state that Jonathan must officially hand over on May 29.
His People's Democratic Party (PDP) has been in charge since the end of army rule in 1999 but had been losing support due to oil sector corruption scandals and the government's lack of success in combating Boko Haram.
"President Jonathan has placed his country's interests first by conceding the election," U.S. President Barack Obama said.
Nigeria's main stock index soared 8.3 percent, posting its single biggest gain this year, and Nigerian dollar-denominated bonds climbed too on relief at the absence of the violence and fraud that has blighted previous elections.
"The context has changed ... There have been 16 years of democracy, there's a constitution, there are legal safeguards," British High Commissioner Andrew Pocock told BBC radio.
Investors are also cautiously optimistic that any crackdown on corruption by Buhari will stimulate investment and boost flagging growth in the oil-dominated economy.
NORTHERN CELEBRATIONS
Cities in the largely Muslim north, where Buhari's core support base lies, erupted in celebration.
Jonathan's appeal to his supporters that "nobody's political ambition is worth blood" meanwhile helped calm their frustrations, reducing the chance of post-election violence that blighted the 2011 poll when Buhari lost to Jonathan.
Buhari took power in a 1983 coup only to be thrown out 18 months later by another general. He subsequently embraced democracy, running in several elections and despite losing always bouncing back.
"I ask that we all be circumspect, respectful and peaceful ... We must begin to heal the wounds," he said.
Nigeria remains a complex ethnic mix of 170 million people, split between Muslims and Christians, with more than 500 languages. Though they mostly live side by side in peace, many harbor disputes that politicians have often used to stoke violence that has worsened over the years.
Buhari must also deal with the fallout from a dive in global oil prices in the last eight months which has hammered state revenues and forced two de facto currency devaluations.
"He's a man with a strong sense of mission and he has clear ideas about what he wants to do with Nigeria, on corruption, on restoring national discipline," Pocock said.
But analysts say cracking down on graft in a country where it is so endemic could take decades.
Reuters
The 72-year-old general, who first came to power three decades ago via a military coup and campaigned as a born-again democrat, also promised to tackle graft in Africa's largest economy.
"Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our collective will. We should spare no effort," Buhari said in his first formal speech since winning the election. "In tackling the insurgency, we have a tough and urgent job to do."
The group has killed thousands in its push to carve out a caliphate in northeastern Nigeria.
Despite the killing of more than a dozen voters by Boko Haram gunmen - who had pledged to derail the poll - the election was one of the most orderly in Nigeria's history.
Buhari won the election with 15.4 million votes to outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan's 13.3 million, a margin wide enough to prevent any challenge.
In an unprecedented step, Jonathan phoned Buhari to concede defeat and urged his supporters to accept the result, a signal of deepening democracy that few had expected in Africa's most populous nation.
Buhari congratulated Jonathan for peacefully relinquishing power on Wednesday.
"President Jonathan was a worthy opponent and I extend the hand of fellowship to him," Buhari, wearing a black cap and kaftan, told reporters and supporters to loud applause.
"We have proven to the world that we are people who have embraced democracy. We have put one-party state behind us."
The rules state that Jonathan must officially hand over on May 29.
His People's Democratic Party (PDP) has been in charge since the end of army rule in 1999 but had been losing support due to oil sector corruption scandals and the government's lack of success in combating Boko Haram.
"President Jonathan has placed his country's interests first by conceding the election," U.S. President Barack Obama said.
Nigeria's main stock index soared 8.3 percent, posting its single biggest gain this year, and Nigerian dollar-denominated bonds climbed too on relief at the absence of the violence and fraud that has blighted previous elections.
"The context has changed ... There have been 16 years of democracy, there's a constitution, there are legal safeguards," British High Commissioner Andrew Pocock told BBC radio.
Investors are also cautiously optimistic that any crackdown on corruption by Buhari will stimulate investment and boost flagging growth in the oil-dominated economy.
NORTHERN CELEBRATIONS
Cities in the largely Muslim north, where Buhari's core support base lies, erupted in celebration.
Jonathan's appeal to his supporters that "nobody's political ambition is worth blood" meanwhile helped calm their frustrations, reducing the chance of post-election violence that blighted the 2011 poll when Buhari lost to Jonathan.
Buhari took power in a 1983 coup only to be thrown out 18 months later by another general. He subsequently embraced democracy, running in several elections and despite losing always bouncing back.
"I ask that we all be circumspect, respectful and peaceful ... We must begin to heal the wounds," he said.
Nigeria remains a complex ethnic mix of 170 million people, split between Muslims and Christians, with more than 500 languages. Though they mostly live side by side in peace, many harbor disputes that politicians have often used to stoke violence that has worsened over the years.
Buhari must also deal with the fallout from a dive in global oil prices in the last eight months which has hammered state revenues and forced two de facto currency devaluations.
"He's a man with a strong sense of mission and he has clear ideas about what he wants to do with Nigeria, on corruption, on restoring national discipline," Pocock said.
But analysts say cracking down on graft in a country where it is so endemic could take decades.
Reuters
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