Tag: Niger

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Tinubu orders Police to recruit more officers

President Bola Tinubu has declared a nationwide security emergency in response to escalating insecurity across the country, directing the military and police to immediately recruit additional personnel.

Under the new directive, the Nigeria Police Force is to recruit 20,000 additional officers, raising the total approved recruitment figure to 50,000. The president also authorised the temporary use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps as police training depots, complementing the ongoing upgrade of police training facilities nationwide.

Tinubu further ordered that officers withdrawn from VIP security duties undergo accelerated retraining before deployment to security-challenged areas.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has also been instructed to deploy all trained forest guards to flush out terrorists and bandits operating from forested areas. The agency is to recruit additional personnel to strengthen security across these locations.

The President commended security agencies for their coordinated efforts that led to the rescue of 24 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State and 38 worshippers in Kwara State.

He urged them to sustain momentum in rescuing the remaining abducted students of a catholic school in Niger State and other citizens still in captivity.

Tinubu warned that there must be “no compromise, no collusion, and no negligence,” promising full federal support to ensure operational success.

Tinubu called on the National Assembly to commence legislative reviews enabling states that seek to establish state police to do so.

On education and religious gatherings, the President advised states to reconsider operating boarding schools in remote, unsecured areas and urged mosques and churches in vulnerable locations to prioritise security and work with law enforcement.

Addressing herder farmer conflicts, Tinubu emphasised that the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development aims to end recurring clashes.

He urged herder associations to embrace ranching, discontinue open grazing, and surrender illegal weapons, noting that the federal and state governments will collaborate to implement lasting solutions.

The President expressed condolences to families affected by recent attacks in Kebbi, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Yobe and Kwara states. He also paid tribute to fallen soldiers, including Brigadier-General Musa Uba.

He urged Nigerians to remain resilient, avoid fear and despair, and stand united to defend the nation’s freedom and values, assuring that his administration remains committed to national unity and peaceful coexistence. (RadioNigeria)

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Military-run Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announce joint ICC withdrawal

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, three nations in West Africa run by military governments after coups in recent years, have announced their exit from the International Criminal Court (ICC), referring to it as “neocolonial repression” and accusing the judicial body of selective justice.

In a joint statement on Monday night, the three countries said the ICC had become incapable of prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and genocide without elaborating.

“[The ICC is an] instrument of neocolonial repression in the hands of imperialism,” the joint statement read, adding that the countries were seeking more “sovereignty”.

The three states added that they wanted to create “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice”.

The three countries, which are ruled by military officers, have already left the Economic Community of West African States and instead formed their own bloc known as the Alliance of Sahel States.

Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have also rolled back defence cooperation with Western powers, most notably their former colonial ruler, France, and opted for closer ties with Russia.

The countries’ withdrawal from the ICC was not unexpected after the coups that brought the military to power in the three states from 2020 to 2023.

Within the three countries, the military governments are fighting armed groups linked to al-Qaeda that control territory and have staged attacks on army posts.

Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups have accused the fighters, the military and partner forces of Burkina Faso and Mali of possible atrocities.

United Nations experts said in April that the alleged summary executions of several dozen civilians by Malian forces might amount to war crimes.

Moreover, the ICC has had an investigation open in Mali since 2013 over alleged war crimes committed in the northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, which had fallen under the control of armed groups.

Withdrawal from the ICC takes effect one year after the decision is submitted to the UN General Secretariat. (AlJazeera)

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CHAN: Uganda draw 3-3 with South Africa, Algeria qualify

Co-hosts Uganda fought back from 3-1 down to salvage a 3-3 draw with South Africa on Monday to qualify from Group C for their first-ever African Nations Championship quarter-finals.

At the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, the 2023 losing finalists Algeria were held to a goalless draw by a 10-man Niger, but the result was enough to take them to the last eight for the second successive tournament.

The stakes were high for Uganda, which needed to beat South Africa at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala to be certain of qualifying for the first time.

The Cranes, who had never beaten South Africa, dominated the first half, and Jude Ssemugabi broke the deadlock just after the half hour with a powerful strike.

But South Africa fought back with two quick goals after resumption.

Veteran Amazulu defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele grabbed the equaliser in the 52nd minute, with Thabiso Kutumela putting South Africa ahead six minutes later.

But South Africa fought back with two quick goals after resumption.

Veteran Amazulu defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele grabbed the equaliser in the 52nd minute, with Thabiso Kutumela putting South Africa ahead six minutes later.

Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo appeared to wrap up the game when he put Bafana Bafana into a 3-1 lead in the 83rd minute, but Uganda struck back in dramatic style with two late goals.

Skipper Allen Okello fired home from the penalty spot two minutes from time after Ivan Ahimbisibwe had been fouled in the box.

Uganda were then awarded another penalty deep in injury time after VAR picked up a handball. Rogers Torach blasted home to level the scores and send Uganda into the quarter-finals, with South Africa tumbling out.

Uganda topped Group C with seven points while Algeria and South Africa tied on six, the Desert Foxes qualifying with a superior goal difference.

Uganda’s qualification means all three co-hosts – Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania – have progressed into the quarter-finals. (Punch)