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Spain police detain 18-year-old for promoting terrorism online

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Spain police detain 18-year-old for promoting terrorism online

Police said Tuesday they had arrested an 18-year-old Spaniard of Moroccan origin who had engaged in “intensive (online) efforts to encourage terrorism” and had ties with other radical jihadists abroad.

The youth was arrested in Barcelona on March 16 on suspicion of links to the Islamic State (IS) group, with a Guardia Civil police statement indicating he had “extensive connections” with other extremists in Asia, Europe and North America.

Police began investigating the teenager, who lived at home with his parents and siblings in Barcelona, early last year after noticing he was “using encrypted instant messaging platforms to express support for IS” and engaging in an “intense propaganda effort to encourage terrorism”.

They decided to arrest him after Swedish police rounded up four people with extremist ties who were preparing an attack and with whom he had been in contact, a police source told AFP.

“Four individuals were arrested in Sweden on suspicion of planning an attack, believed to be imminent, and he was linked to them,” the source said.

On March 7, Sweden’s Sapo security service said it had arrested the four in Stockholm for preparing attacks “linked to violent Islamist extremism”.

“He had been touch with them for some time, mainly online, exchanging terror manuals and discussing possible targets,” the source said.

Through his online profiles, the teenager spread “a great deal of jihadist content about terrorist activities and about materials for making explosives,” the police statement said.

Canada suspect also arrested

The suspect had been in touch with an individual in Canada “who was also planning an attack,” but was arrested about a year ago.

“It was the same sort of relationship as with the Swedes, they were in touch online and exchanged terror manuals and discussed possible attacks,” he said.

Police did not find any evidence of similar contact with people in Spain.

The youth observed “strict security measures”, using tools that let him operate anonymously online, offering other jihadist sympathisers “training and instruction in terrorism”.

Investigators also found he was using cryptocurrencies, saying they “did not rule out his involvement in funding terror activities”.

He was brought before a Spanish court on March 19 and remanded in custody.

Police believe he was radicalised in isolation with material he found online.

“It’s quite common. Nowadays many young people become radicalised through jihadist propaganda on various websites, without anyone encouraging them,” the source said.

“They self-radicalise and that’s what we think happened to him.”

The police operation was carried out in collaboration with Spain’s CNI intelligence agency, Sweden’s Sapo, France’s domestic intelligence agency DGSI, and the European policing agency Europol.

Spain police arrested 78 suspected jihadists last year, the highest number since 2005, according to a report published Tuesday by the Collective of Victims of Terrorism (COVITE) and the International Observatory for Terrorism Studies.

The age of the suspected Islamic extremists who have been arrested in Spain is getting increasingly younger, according to the report, which said six of those arrested last year were minors and 21 were between the ages of 18 and 24.

AFP

Osun police recover headless corpse, begin probe

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Osun police recover headless corpse, begin probe

The Osun State Police Command has said its operatives have commenced an investigation into the circumstances around the headless corpse of a woman found opposite Osogbo Local Government Secretariat in Okebaale, Osogbo on Tuesday.

The command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who confirmed the presence of the corpse in the area during an interview on Tuesday, said relevant authorities have been contacted to evacuate the body.

Opalola, however, said operatives have commenced an investigation into the development to unravel the mystery around how the body got to the spot it was found.

She said, “Concerning the dead body of a headless and armless woman that was found opposite Osogbo LG secretariat, Oke Baale, I want to inform you that the police are aware.

“The necessary authority has been contacted for the immediate evacuation of the Corpse, while discreet investigation is ongoing.”

Meanwhile, the presence of the corpse in the area caused panic, as the residents gathered to discuss circumstances that could have led to the mutilation of the deceased.

A few residents of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, while commenting on the development, said the head and arms of the deceased were cut by some yet to identified assailants.

According to them, the woman was a well-known face in the neighbourhood, adding that she used to walk around the area since she was homeless.

They also said they were able to identify the deceased with the clothes she had on and called for a discreet investigation to fish out the perpetrators of the crime.

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NUT knocks state govs over non-payment of primary school

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NUT knocks state govs over non-payment of primary school

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Titus Amba, has condemned the non-payment of primary school teachers, which, according to him, is running into several months by some state governments.

He also called on the Federal Government to make basic education a core responsibility of the state governments.

Amba made this known at the delegates conference of the federal wing of the NUT, which was held at the Teachers House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

“I urge the Minister of Education to lend his executive voice through the Federal Executive Council, by urging them to cause an amendment in the 1999 Constitution, whereby the first nine years of basic education be made a core responsibility of the state governments instead of the local government councils.

“It is only when the funding of basic education is made a core constitutional responsibility of state governments that the toxic phenomenon of non-payment of primary school teachers salaries will be a thing of the past across the states of the federation,” he said.

While lamenting the backlog of salaries and promotion arrears owed both federal and state teachers, the NUT president insisted that welfare of teachers must be given priority in the policies and programmes of all the tiers of government in the country, if the vision for the future of education in Nigeria would be meaningfully realised.

He underscored the role that teachers play as agents of change and the cornerstone of educational development in any progressive clime.

Chairman of NUT, Federal Wing, Alex Okonta, on his part, lamented that teachers of Federal Government Colleges (Unity Schools) are being owed accumulated arrears.

He called on the Federal Government to ensure payment of these arrears without delay.

Okonta also demanded the establishment of the Federal Teaching Service Commission, saying a functional teaching service commission would remove the bottleneck affecting promotion and restore the lost glory of federal schools in Nigeria.

He further called for the implementation of the new Teachers Salary Scale approved in 2020 by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that the Federal Government had announced the new salary teachers structure and other packages to boost the moral of teachers.

He said a lot of federal teachers have been stagnated for several years because of “no vacancy”.

He demanded that teachers should get their promotion as and when due given the nature of the job they do.

I deserve respect, Clark faults military raid on country home

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I deserve respect, Clark faults military raid on country home

Elder statesman and National Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, has condemned a military raid on his country home in the Kiagbodo Local Government Area of Delta State.

Clark, in a statement he signed on Tuesday, recounted how he was inundated with calls informing him of the raid of his country home by military men in search of one Vote, suspected to be linked to the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama, following a call from a person identified as the Commanding Officer Nigerian Army, Division in Port Harcourt, apologising on behalf of the Army, for the raid.

According to him, the military men had reportedly arrived in five trucks loaded with armed soldiers, numbering between 30 and 40, while at the same time flying drones within the premises.

He said, “Some of them went to the buildings behind the main house and broke all the doors that were locked. They matched out my staff living in those buildings, including lecturers at the university, and made them sit on bare ground.

“They also broke into my late brother, Ambassador Akporode Blessing Clark’s house. A man who served this country internationally in various capacities, including as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as both of us share the same premises. They brought out his son almost naked, as the young man was taking a bath when they stormed the house.

“All their phones were seized. The people had to identify themselves and told them whose house it was before they asked for my telephone number, which they said they would pass to their “oga” before they all departed. One would have expected that at this juncture, a call could have been put to the Governor of Delta State, to inform him of what happened”.

Clark said the incident was “beyond coincidence”, and was a source of concern, recounting a previous raid on his Abuja home on September 4, 2018, while describing the authorisation of such raids as “disrespectful and unlawful”, having served the country nearly 70 years in different capacities.

“Again, I call on the various state actors to let me live in peace and treat me with the kind of respect that I deserve, having served this country, and still serving even at the age of 97 years, until when it will please the Almighty God to call me home.

“I want to end this write-up by addressing all concerned with what I told President Muhammadu Buhari when my security details were withdrawn. If I die today as a result of a natural occurrence, it will be a joyful celebration. But if my death is linked to any dubious means by some overzealous state actors, no one can tell how far the fire will rage. This is not a threat. It is an acknowledgement of God’s mercies on me,” he added.

I had productive interaction with security men, Gumi confirms invitation

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I had productive interaction with security men, Gumi confirms invitation

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has broken his silence after an invitation by the Department of State Services over his comments on the activities of bandits in the country.

According to him, the invitation was necessary, and he had a productive interaction with the security agents who queried him.

The According reports that the Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed that the prominent Islamic cleric was invited for questioning while noting that no one was above the law.

Reacting, Gumi, in a social media post titled, ‘Only one person is above the law: The Innocent!’ on Tuesday, wrote, “Last night, I got many frantic calls from well-wishers and journalists about a news item that I was interviewed by security. There is absolutely no cause for alarm.

“Yes, we had a productive interaction on how to curb banditry as we are all trying -each in his own sphere- to tackle the monster bedeviling the nation. There was no animosity but courtesy and full of respect.”

“We all need as a nation to unite and work in synergy to achieve an everlasting peace. I thank you for your concern. May Allah continue to protect us all from all evil. Amin.”

Details later…

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FCT NSCDC deploys 5,230 personnel for Easter

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FCT NSCDC deploys 5,230 personnel for Easter

The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Capital Territory Command, Olusola Odumosu, has deployed 5,230 personnel across the FCT for the Easter celebrations.

The deployment is to maintain peace and order across the FCT and its environs during the Easter holidays.

This was contained in a statement signed by the command spokesperson, Idoko Samuel, on Tuesday.

Odumosu, who addressed principal officers in Abuja, noted that due to the intelligence report received of a possible attack this season in the FCT, the command had deployed personnel around the FCT for surveillance and intelligence gathering to foil such planned attack.

The command has also deployed all special squads such as the Armed Squad, Female Strike Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Crack Squad (operation Adaka-su) and Agro Rangers to ensure the maintenance of law and order.

Odumosu said, “The corps is committed to ensuring the safety of critical national assets as well as the lives and properties of residents of the FCT.

“There is no room for carelessness and overzealousness while carrying out your duties during this season. You must abide strictly by the operational order, harassing innocent residents who are going about their lawful business will not be tolerated.”

He urge residents of the FCT to enjoy their holiday, adding that the command would provide security in all places of worship, recreational centres, markets, shopping malls, motor parks and other flashpoints during the holiday season.

He warned miscreants and vandals that personnel of the NSCDC would not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law on anyone caught or found culpable.

Institute makes case for standard in millet production

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Institute makes case for standard in millet production

The International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics, on Tuesday, emphasised the need for the production and standardisation of millets across the country.

The Country Representative, ICRISAT, Angarawai Ignatius, spoke at the validation workshop on micronutrient standards and other specifications for millet varieties release and registration in Nigeria in Abuja.

In Nigeria, the two major types of millet cultivated are pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana). Pearl millet is the most widely grown millet variety in Nigeria, especially in the northern states

Ignatius described millet as a crop that would sustain humanity during climate change, hence the need for high standardieation to aid healthy living.

He said, “We have a challenge with climate change and increase in global warming. But by forecast, millet, especially the pearl species, is the only crop of the future that can survive in 45 degree centigrade.

“Last year, when the UN had a resolution, they declared 2023 as an international year of millet aside its climate resilience. It helps humanity to survive, especially those that live on dry land.

“It is a tradition in India that when a lady marries, she should be fed for a year, minimum of six months because they value millets consumption.

“What we are focusing on in Nigeria is to see how we can standardize the release process of pearl millet production and have it commercially available.”

The Director General, HarvestPlus Nigeria, Yusuf Dollah, noted that the organisation has been developing biofortified crops such as millets which are rich in zinc and iron, adding that it was heading for a phase to raise its level of standard in production.

Dollar explained, “For over 10 years, Harvest Plus has been promoting biofortified crops which are developed to have micronutrients and vitamins so that when consumed by mostly the vulnerable groups, they can have access to the vitamins for healthy growth.

“We have the iron and zinc millet, and we have also commenced work on the development of zinc rice.

“But as we promote these varieties, we need to look at the technicalities in services that will strengthen these values change in Nigeria.

“One of those technicalities is standard so that if we are releasing any variety as bio fortified crops, there should be a minimum standard of micro nutrients and vitamins that the variety should have as a bio fortified crop.”

The Chairman, Technical Sub-committee Crops; National Committee on Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds and Fisheries, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Shehu Ado said, “Now that Nigeria is promoting food security, there is a need for the standardization of the quality of varieties of millets.

“For standardisation to take place, the pearl millet should be breed so that the genotype in the plant will generally be able to produce a high amount of iron and zinc.”

Be professional in handling Delta bloodbath, Rep urges military

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Be professional in handling Delta bloodbath, Rep urges military

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State, Rodney Ambaiowei, has called on military authorities to be guided by professionalism in the handling of the killing of 17 soldiers in Okuama community, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

On Thursday last week, 17 soldiers deployed on a peace mission in Okuama were killed by irate youths, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for an investigation.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the lawmaker said only caution and professionalism would prevent grave damages and consequences.

According to him, the action of the killers spread over Igbomotoru in the Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, where he said soldiers on a revenge mission had been on a revenge spree

He said, “Caution and professionalism must be the watchword to forestall unpleasant and regrettable consequences in the approach to bringing the culprits to book.

“It has become imperative and compelling to lend my voice in condemning an event which is uncalled for, the avoidable loss of lives of Nigerians on the side of the Nigerian military and the communities affected in Ughelli South and Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency.

“There is no gainsaying that the gruesome and unprovoked murder of 17 officers and men of the Nigerian Army consisting of a Lieutenant Colonel, two majors, a captain, and 12 other men of the military by criminals in Okuama community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, was one of the worse things to have happened to our gallant soldiers in recent history.

“Let me at this point condole with the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the families of these fallen heroes, and the good people of Nigeria.

“I am sadly compelled to address this conference following the callous and senseless murder of these officers who were said to be on their line of duty at Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State which event spilled into Igbomotoru, a hitherto peaceful community in my Federal Constituency, Southern Ijaw which is more than one hundred and fifty nautical kilometres from Okuama and in less than twenty-four hours, spilled into Igbomotoru, my Federal Constituency.

“This led to the invasion of the once serene community by men said to be of the military in search of the perpetrators of the heinous crime at Okuma. The aftermath of the invasion was the destruction and killing of some innocent and peace-loving citizens of the Igbomotoru community, which is rather unfortunate and saddening.”

Recalling a similar incident that occurred in the past, the lawmaker said, “I am aware that the Nigerian Army can gather intelligence within a short period. The execution of such intelligence reports should be done with utmost caution to minimise collateral damage to innocent and law-abiding citizens.

“I say this, bearing in mind the invasion and carnage that took place in Odi, in November 1999 following the killing of some soldiers and policemen which remains fresh in our memories.

“I want to align with the thinking and disposition of President Tinubu, the National Assembly and all the good people of Nigeria who crave for the swift arrest of those criminals who untimely cut short the lives of those officers and men of the Nigerian army who were merely on a peace mission to Okuama. Their dastardly act has created young widows and orphans whose future is now made bleak.”

He appealed to the people of Igbomotoru and the entire Southern-Ijaw Federal Constituency to be vigilant and report any strange movements in their various communities to the nearest law enforcement agents.

“I implore parents not to even spare taking drastic actions against their children and wards who are getting out of control. There is a biblical saying that if you spare the rod, you spoil the child,” he concluded.

Kano gov names Kwankwaso’s son, three others commissioners

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Kano gov names Kwankwaso’s son, three others commissioners

The Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, has nominated Mustapha Kwankwaso, son of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso as commissioner.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano, was the presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party in the 2023 general election.

The governor has also nominated Adamu Kibiya, a former Commissioner for Land, who was suspended for making derogatory statements on tribunal judges.

The other commisiomers-nominee are Usman Aliyu and Abduljabbar Garko.

The names of the four nominees have been forwarded to the Kano State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

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Ekiti monarch got permission to travel for medicals

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Ekiti monarch got permission to travel for medicals

The Elekole-in-Council has said that its monarch, the Elekole of Ikole Ekiti in the Ikole Ekiti Local Government area of Ekiti State, Oba Adewunmi Fasiku, sought and obtained necessary permission before traveling on a medical vacation.

The council spoke in reaction to reports that the monarch’s whereabouts were unknown and that he was incommunicado.

The Elekole-in-Council, in a statement signed by the Second-in-Command to the Elekole and Olotin of Ikole-Ekiti, Chief Oluwasayo Okunola, made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday said, “The people in Ikole Ekiti are aware of the king’s whereabouts. He is indisposed like any other human being can be, and he is receiving treatment abroad.”

The Save Ikole Group had, in the report, alleged that its members’ advice prevented youths in the town from attacking chiefs of the community over the monarchs’ state and whereabouts.

But the council stated, “The good thing is that he (the Elekole) is recuperating, and that was apparent when he addressed the chiefs and a large number of the town people on January 20, 2024, via virtual means. Where they (the group) got it from that the king is incommunicado is what we do not know.

“When the king was travelling, he took all necessary steps and procedures by seeking approval from the state government, which is the constitutional requirement, and he duly informed members of Elekole-in-council and other chiefs.

“It is laughable how the Save Ikole Group claimed they prevented the youth from protesting and beating up the chiefs; how on earth would Ikole youths resort to these unknown persons for advice?

“We have challenged them, and we are doing so for the umpteenth time to mention the names of the youths they met with, but they have been unable. The only youth body in Ikole-Ekiti, the Ikole Youth Forum, has denied ever planning a protest, let alone meeting them.

“For us, the good sons and daughters of Ikole are still full of joy over the state specialist hospital in the town that has just been upgraded to a Federal Medical Centre and other developments happening in the town in spite the absence of the king.”

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