Troops arrest ex-police inspector over alleged possession of arms (Read full details)

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Troops arrested Odigba Elias and Abduwahab Adamu for possession of arms in Ningi Local Government Area of Buachi State.

Troops on clearance operation of suspected cattle rustlers have arrested ex-Police Inspector, Odigba Elias and Abduwahab Adamu for possession of arms in Ningi Local Government Area of Buachi State.

Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, the Director Army Public Relations, announced the arrest while giving update on troops deployed on Operation Lafiya Dole and other internal security operations in the North East and North West.

Usman said that the troops were intensifying patrols and raids of suspected areas where Boko Haram terrorists, cattle rustlers and other criminals were hiding.

He explained that one single barrel gun, four cartridges, 11 empty cartridges, gun powder, one leg chain, one motorcycle and one cutting machine were recovered from the two suspects.

Usman said that the suspects were arrested at Married Officers Quarters in Shadawanka Barracks, adding “both suspects are being interrogated.’’

Usman said troops of the 7 Division Gun Boat Company also recovered 1, 000 cows following distress call by herdsmen at Aramari village, near Konduga in Borno that terrorists were rustling their cattle.

The army spokesman said the troops also rescued two persons held captive by the terrorists, who fled on sighting the troops.

On clearance of terrorists, Usman said troops of 232 Battalion of 23 Brigade were intensifying patrol of Gombi, Guriki and Bobini towns in Adamawa to prevent Boko Haram terrorists’ infiltration from Borno.

“Similarly, troops deployed in Garkida have continued to maintain blocking positions through patrols toward Jau general area to fix any fleeing Boko Haram terrorists.
“Other units under the Brigade have also conducted patrol to Wurolade village to prevent the terrorists’ infiltration through our border with Republic of Cameroon,’’ he said.

Usman said those deployed to Hong had intensified patrol at Mararraba Pella, Kalla and Shangui, as well as Hong- Garaha road.

According to him, troops of 301 Artillery Regiment and 231 Battalions have intensified patrols in southern parts of Borno and Gombe to destroy fleeing Boko Haram terrorists from Ajigin and Talala axis.

“The troops of 251 Battalion, 7 Division Garrison deployed at Ummarari yesterday ,Sunday while on routine patrol discovered two wrapped suicide bomb vests possibly kept there for pick up in the bush.

“The troops called the Nigeria Police explosive ordnance team which safely detonated the vests,’’ he said.

From Borno West, Usman said troops of 145 Task Force Battalion of 5 Task Force Brigade arrested a suspected terrorist, Auta Abdullahi as he attempted to enter Damasak from Niger Republic.

“Although, the suspect claimed to be herbs dealer, preliminary investigation has confirmed his membership of the Boko Haram terrorists group. Nevertheless, he is being further interrogated.

“Some elements of the Brigade while advancing to clear an object encountered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Duoma near Damasak. The fragment of the IED damaged the door of one of the Armoured Personnel Carrier.

“Further investigation confirmed that the IED was made of comportments of Acetylene Gas Cylinder and Pressure Plate Switch,’’ he said.

Continuing on the update, Usman said that on Saturday night, two female suicide bombers attempted to enter Maiduguri through Ummarari.
“One of them was shot by a soldier, while the second panicked and detonated the suicide vest strapped to her body. There was no casualty beyond the two suicide bombers,’’ he said.

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Mali face World Cup ban after officials fired…See full details

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Mali could be thrown out of the 2018 World Cup qualifying competition after the government sacked the national football federation leaders.

The bottom-of-the-table west Africans are scheduled to play Morocco twice, group leaders Ivory Coast and Gabon this year.

Global football body FIFA does not permit government interference in the sport, resulting in a number of African countries being banned previously.

“The ministerial decision goes against (the independence of the member associations),” a FIFA statement said.

“In case the decision is not cancelled on Friday March 10, the case would automatically be submitted to the FIFA Council bureau for consideration.”

Despite the threat, the Malian sports ministry remained defiant Saturday, saying they want to end “persistent crisis in football.

“It is a government decision and it will not be reversed,” said sports ministry lawyer Amadou Diarra Yalcouye.

“FIFA cannot oblige the government to reverse its decision.

“The sports ministry will soon set up a committee tasked with reuniting the football family.”

Mali performed poorly at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, scoring only one goal as they lost to Ghana and drew with Egypt and Uganda.

The country is ranked 12th in Africa and 61st in the world.

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Britain sees stronger economy as Brexit looms…Read full details

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A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond as he delivers his Spring budget in the House of Commons in London on March 8, 2017. British finance minister Philip Hammond will unveil his latest tax and spend plans Wednesday in a budget expected to exude caution as the country prepares to trigger Brexit. / AFP PHOTO / PRU AND AFP PHOTO / HO /

Britain’s economy will grow far stronger than expected this year, finance minister Philip Hammond said Wednesday, as the country readies to trigger its exit from the European Union.

With UK activity performing better than expected following its June referendum in favour of Brexit, Hammond said in a budget update the country’s gross domestic product growth would come in at 2.0 percent this year, much higher than the government’s previous 1.4-percent GDP forecast.

Highlighting however the uncertainty surrounding the UK economy as the country prepares to quit the EU, the earlier 1.4-percent forecast given in November was a sharp downgrade on a prior estimate of 2.2 percent.

“As we prepare for our future outside the EU we cannot rest on our past achievements,” Hammond told parliament Wednesday as he unveiled a series of measures, including new investment for British schools, as part of the government’s latest tax and spend plans.

“We must focus relentlessly on keeping Britain at the cutting edge of the global economy. The deficit is down, but debt is still too high. Employment is up, but productivity remains stubbornly low,” added the chancellor of the exchequer.

Hammond said UK growth would stand at 1.6 percent next year, down slightly on a prior official estimate of 1.7 percent.

And the Conservative government downgraded also its GDP forecasts for 2019 and 2020. The nation would however borrow far less this year than the amount predicted back in November.

Sterling, which has fallen sharply since the Brexit vote, enjoyed a bounce on Hammond’s revised estimates.

“The pound has risen off its lowest level against the US dollar since mid-January… after chancellor Philip Hammond announced upgrades to the GDP forecasts,” said David Cheetham, chief market analyst at XTB trading group.

“Hammond has also stated that public borrowing will decrease significantly in 2017 to £51.7 billion ($63 billion, 60 billion euros) from the £68 billion seen previously in another development that has caused a mildly positive reaction in sterling.”

The budget and latest economic forecasts come as Britain stands on the cusp of triggering Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty by the end of March.

This starts a two-year withdrawal process, after which Britain will leave the European Union whether or not it has struck a deal on its future ties with the bloc.

– ‘Brighter future’ –
Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that Britain will leave Europe’s single market or tariff-free zone in order to control EU immigration, thus delivering a so-called “hard” Brexit meaning the country will need a series of new trade deals globally.

“As we start our negotiations to exit the European Union, this budget takes forward our plan to prepare Britain for a brighter future,” Hammond told the House of Commons.

“It provides a strong and stable platform for those negotiations. It extends opportunity to all our young people. It delivers further public investment in our public services, and it continues the task of getting Britain back to living within its means.

“We are building the foundations of a stronger fairer more global Britain,” he added.

The government on Wednesday confirmed plans to pump more than £500 million into Britain’s education system, building new schools and renovating others.

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