TIG Post

Tag: Terrorism

  • Work in solidarity to combat terrorism, climate change – Speaker Bagbin charges African legislators

    Work in solidarity to combat terrorism, climate change – Speaker Bagbin charges African legislators

    The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called on African legislators to unite under the principles of Pan-Africanism to tackle pressing challenges such as terrorism, conflicts, and climate change.

    Speaking during the First Ordinary Session of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Assembly on Monday, Speaker Bagbin emphasized the need for collective action to address the issues undermining stability and development in West Africa. He urged lawmakers across the continent to leverage parliamentary diplomacy to foster peace and sustainable growth.

    The event, hosted by the President of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Assembly, H.E. Adama Bictogo, saw participation from parliamentary leaders from Senegal, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, and the ECOWAS Parliament. Speaker Bagbin’s delegation included his spouse, Madam Linda Ofosuah Oboh, along with Members of Parliament Hon. Habib Iddrisu, Hon. Dorcas Toffey, Hon. Dr. Sebastian Sandaare, and other parliamentary staff.

    In his remarks, Speaker Bagbin highlighted the critical role of legislators in addressing regional challenges. African lawmakers must stand in solidarity to combat terrorism, resolve conflicts, and confront climate change, he stated.

    President of Nigeria’s Senate, Godswill Akpabio, also addressed the assembly, underscoring the importance of collaboration between African nations. He stressed that countries like Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire are bound by a shared responsibility for the progress of the continent.

    “The future of West Africa rests upon us. Therefore, let us not be complacent. The challenges before us are vast – youth unemployment, human trafficking, and security threats. Yet, so too are the opportunities,” Akpabio said.

    He further called for stronger ties across national boundaries, urging lawmakers to lead the charge for unity. “The colonialists may have cut Africa into geopolitical chunks, but we must unite and stitch the torn fabrics of our heritage and teach the world that blood is still thicker than water. Let us envision a region where borders are bridges of unity, not walls of division, where trade flourishes, cultures blend, and progress becomes the right of every citizen,” Akpabio concluded.

    The gathering underscored the critical role of parliamentary collaboration in fostering unity, with leaders reaffirming their commitment to advancing the shared vision of a prosperous and stable Africa.

  • Rising terrorism calls for stronger regional cooperation – Mahama

    Rising terrorism calls for stronger regional cooperation – Mahama

    President John Dramani Mahama has voiced his deep concern over the rising tide of terrorism engulfing neighboring nations.

    During a discussion with Mali’s Prime Minister, General Abdoulaye Maiga, Mahama highlighted the growing threat posed by extremist factions in the region, underscoring the urgency of enhancing collective regional efforts to confront this menace.

    The President reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to assisting Mali and its regional partners, offering continued support in their shared mission to eliminate terrorism and restore peace and security across the area.

    “We recognise the relationship we have and how we must work closely together. We know what is happening in the geo-politics of our sub-region and the unfortunate situation unfolding in the Sahel. It is not anything that is new, but it continues to become more grave than it was in the past. I’m talking about the issue of insurgency and terrorism.”

    “And so, our security is an echelon objective and we must work with each other to make sure that our sub-region is safe. Ghana continues to remain strong in solidarity with Mali.”

    Mali Prime Minister Maiga

    The President also shared that Ghana and Mali will form collaborative technical teams to address challenges in their diplomatic ties.

    These teams will focus on identifying and resolving existing obstacles.

    Meanwhile, Mali’s Prime Minister, Abdoulaye Maiga, expressed a positive outlook on enhancing economic and security partnerships between the two nations.

    “We’re convinced that our two leaders have the way to ensure the cooperation, economic matters and security.”

  • Finnish police detain Nigerian secessionist leader as Nigeria presses for extradition

    Finnish police detain Nigerian secessionist leader as Nigeria presses for extradition

    Nigerian authorities have announced plans to request the extradition of a controversial leader of a banned separatist movement following his arrest in Finland on terrorism charges.

    Simon Ekpa, a Finnish national of Nigerian descent, claims to lead a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) from exile—a group pushing for the creation of a breakaway state in Nigeria’s south-east.

    Officials in Nigeria allege that Ekpa has used social media platforms to incite violence and are determined to bring him to justice.

    Ekpa has denied involvement in the recent wave of violence in south-eastern Nigeria, a region with a history of civil war dating back to the late 1960s.

    Identifying himself as the “prime minister” of the self-declared Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, Ekpa maintains ties to Ipob.

    Despite his claims, Ipob, banned in Nigeria, has publicly distanced itself from Ekpa.

    Earlier this year, the Nigerian army listed Ekpa and 96 others as wanted for terrorism, extremism, and advocating secession.

    Residing in Lahti, Finland, Ekpa also serves as a representative for Finland’s National Coalition Party, as reported by AFP.

    Finnish investigators revealed that Ekpa had incited violence in south-east Nigeria while operating from Finland, leveraging his social media presence.

    Otto Hiltunen, head of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, said Ekpa’s activities had included incitement against civilians and authorities in Nigeria.

    Authorities noted the case involved international collaboration, though they did not confirm Nigeria’s direct involvement.

    Four individuals were also detained on suspicion of financing Ekpa’s operations.

    It remains unclear if Nigeria has formally submitted an extradition request, but officials have expressed confidence that Ekpa will face trial in the country.

    Dada Olusegun, a special assistant to President Tinubu, took a jab at Ekpa’s self-proclaimed title, posting on X: “Thank you Finland. See you soon Prime Minister.”

    The Nigerian army celebrated Ekpa’s arrest, hailing it as a significant step in combating terrorism.

    Army spokesperson Tukur Gusau said the military was optimistic about Ekpa’s extradition, while Defence Media Director Edward Buba thanked the international community for its cooperation.

    Previous efforts to extradite Ekpa have been unsuccessful.

    In February, Finnish authorities briefly detained Ekpa after he threatened to disrupt Nigeria’s elections, but he was released following interrogation.

    At the time, the Nigerian army accused Finland and the EU of shielding Ekpa, though Finnish officials insisted on respecting his rights as a citizen.

    Ekpa has garnered significant support in parts of south-east Nigeria, a region long plagued by unrest stemming from clashes between Ipob and security forces.

    He has repeatedly called for sit-at-home protests against the Nigerian government, amplifying his influence in the region.

    Ekpa gained notoriety in 2021 when he announced on Facebook that Ipob leader Nnamdi Kanu had tasked him with broadcasting on Radio Biafra.

    Kanu has been detained since 2021 after being captured in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria.

    Founded in 2012 as a non-violent movement, Ipob formed an armed wing in 2020, claiming it aimed to defend the Igbo ethnic group, though critics accuse it of perpetuating violence and suffering.

    A Nigerian court has officially classified Ipob as a terrorist organization.

  • Ghanaians lack awareness on spotting terror threats – Security Analyst warns

    Ghanaians lack awareness on spotting terror threats – Security Analyst warns

    Security Analyst Dr. Vincent Azumah has raised concerns about Ghanaians’ limited awareness in identifying potential terror threats, citing a lack of public education as a critical weakness in the nation’s counter-terrorism efforts.

    In an interview with The Independent Ghana, Dr. Azumah highlighted findings from an experiment conducted by his organization, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP). The exercise revealed a troubling gap in vigilance when a stranger left a backpack unattended in a church filled with congregants.

    “He sat on the pews for a few minutes, left there, and walked out. The bag was there; the guy didn’t return. Church closed, and we went back to take the bag. Assuming the person was a terrorist and dropped that bag there, a lot of people would have died because nobody checked. He was a total stranger. Nobody asked him any questions. We came back and picked our bag. It is for all of us to open our eyes,” Dr. Azumah said.

    Stressing the role of public awareness in combating terrorism, he added:
    “It is not a matter for the security agencies alone. It is a matter for every Ghanaian to be able to know that there is a threat, a pending threat. You’ll just be walking with a terrorist beside you and you’ll never know. What should be done is some basic education to all Ghanaians. You need to keep your eyes and ears open, and when you see something suspicious, you raise an alarm. Education is key.”

    Dr. Azumah’s remarks follow a recent report by Reuters suggesting that militants from Burkina Faso are using Ghana’s northern regions as logistical bases for gathering supplies and receiving medical treatment. While Ghanaian authorities have denied the presence of Islamist militants in the country, Dr. Azumah pointed out the vulnerability of Ghana’s porous borders, insufficient security personnel, and inadequate technology as potential risks.

    “Ghana cannot be an island where Togo has been hit several times, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso. What we don’t know for sure is where these guys are. Where is their base in Ghana? Have they been arrested? No one can say that for sure. Monitoring terrorists is one of the most difficult tasks any country can experience. One cannot say the terrorists are not able to enter Ghana. They may be in Ghana, and nobody can tell until the security agencies are able to locate them and flush them out. You know that Ghana has very porous borders. There are large spans of land that have no security manning them. They can come in and out at will, and we cannot say the terrorists cannot take advantage of this,” he said.

    Although Ghana has not experienced a confirmed terror attack, experts warn that unchecked movements of insurgents could lay the groundwork for future threats.

    This warning comes amid revelations that the country’s anti-terror hotline, 999, launched in May 2022, has become unresponsive. The hotline was introduced as part of the Ministry of National Security’s “See Something, Say Something” campaign to facilitate the reporting of suspicious activities. However, calls placed by The Independent Ghana on October 25 were met with automated messages promoting unrelated services, leaving the hotline inaccessible.

    Public frustration over the issue is growing. One citizen remarked, “I tried calling this morning. They didn’t pick up. Hmm, Ghana.”

    Addressing the inefficacy of the hotline, Dr. Azumah attributed it to prank calls and the government’s inability to sustain initiatives.

    “I have also heard some of the security apparatus complaining that people just call those lines just to have fun. We are not able to sustain what we start. It is a Ghanaian attitude that needs to be changed… we start nicely, and we dump them,” he said.

    He emphasized the importance of leveraging local structures to report suspicious activities.

    “It is not only taking a phone. It is not everyone who has a phone. In those communities where electricity is a challenge, if your phone is dead, what do you do? You may not be able to call.

    “It is one of the many ways we can use to repel or save you from any pending attack. There are many other avenues that I think should go wider than just See Something, Say Something. We have the security agencies in our communities, so you don’t really need to call anyone in the capital to report something that you’ve seen. The Local District Assemblies have people who are trained to respond to some of these things. The Chief’s Palace, Linguists—all these are local structures we can use to report the movement of suspicious people,” Dr. Azumah concluded.

  • New counter-terrorism Act needed to address radicalized youth in Ghana – CISA

    New counter-terrorism Act needed to address radicalized youth in Ghana – CISA

    A non-governmental organization specializing in security and intelligence, The Centre for Intelligence and Security Analysis (CISA), has urged the government to implement new counter-terrorism legislation to enhance the country’s anti-terrorism efforts.

    This legislation, termed the “Foreign Fighters Act (FFA)” by the Centre, would address the reintegration of radicalized youth and war returnees, as well as impose harsher penalties on individuals involved in terrorist activities.

    CEO of CISA and former Director-General of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), Mr. Rasheed Inusah, emphasized the need for such legislation during a workshop for selected media practitioners in Accra.

    He highlighted concerns about the absence of specific legislation like the FFA, especially given the reported rise in Ghanaian youth joining terrorist groups or participating in conflicts abroad.

    Urging swift action from the Government, Mr. Inusah stressed the importance of enacting laws to facilitate the reintegration of these individuals and maintain national peace and security.

    “The absence of Foreign Fighters Act is worrying as more Ghanaian youth run to war zones, terrorist cells; and return as radicalised lone wolves or form sleeper cells,” Mr Inusah said.

    “In 2015, a 25-year-old Ghanaian graduate, Mohammed Nazir Nortei Alema, was recruited by ISIS but later died in Syria.”

    He also underscored the growing threat of “home-grown sleeper cells and lone wolves” and emphasized the FFA’s role in empowering law enforcement agencies to prevent terrorist acts.


    Additionally, Mr. Inusah called attention to economic challenges contributing to youth vulnerability to exploitation by terrorist groups, urging measures to address high unemployment rates.

    He also reminded the media of their responsibility to safeguard the electoral process by avoiding sensationalism and dissemination of false information, while prioritizing safety and neutrality in reporting.

    CISA, dedicated to addressing security challenges in the West African sub-region, employs various tools such as research and publications by analysts and security practitioners to achieve its objectives.


  • “Terrorism remains one of the most significant challenges facing Africa today” – Akufo-Addo

    “Terrorism remains one of the most significant challenges facing Africa today” – Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo highlighted Africa’s urgent need to address the threat of violent extremism during his remarks at the High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday, April 22.

    He emphasized that terrorism is a significant challenge across the continent that requires unified action.

    President Akufo-Addo stressed that terrorism poses a critical threat to Africa and highlighted the importance of concerted efforts to combat it.

    He emphasized that no single nation can effectively tackle terrorism alone, underscoring the need for collective action.

    President Akufo-Addo urged leaders to prioritize cooperation and collaboration to effectively confront the menace. He also warned against complacency in the face of terrorism, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

    “As we have convened here to find means to end terrorism in Africa, we recognise the urgent need and concerted efforts to combat this great menace that continues to threaten the peace, security and development of our continent.”

    “Terrorism remains one of the most significant challenges facing Africa today and its consequences are felt across the continent, destabilising communities, undermining governance structures and obstructing socio-economic progress,” President Akufo-Addo said.

    The presence of leaders from Togo, Nigeria, and other neighboring countries underscored a shared commitment to working together in the fight against terrorism.

  • Safeguarding Ghana from terrorism requires collaborative efforts – Chief of Army Staff

    Safeguarding Ghana from terrorism requires collaborative efforts – Chief of Army Staff

    The recently appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona, has voiced apprehensions regarding the looming threat of terrorism in the sub-region.

    During his inaugural visit to the Central Command after being appointed by President Akufo-Addo, Major General Onwona stressed the importance of the army undergoing comprehensive training to effectively respond to potential terrorist attacks.

    He underscored that Ghana is not immune to the terrorism threats prevalent in the surrounding region.

    Addressing troops during his visit, the Chief of Army Staff commended their dedication and sacrifices in ensuring peace and security both locally and nationally.

    He urged all soldiers to uphold professionalism and diligence, especially during the upcoming election period, to guarantee a free, fair, and transparent electoral process.

    Furthermore, Major General Onwona highlighted the significance of commanders ensuring that their troops meet expectations and exhibit exemplary leadership.

    He emphasized, “We all have the responsibility to train and be adequately prepared to respond appropriately and promptly to any imminent terrorist threats.”

    Additionally, Major General Onwona paid a courtesy visit to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, where the importance of the army in maintaining peace and security was underscored. Otumfuo expressed confidence in the Chief of Army Staff for a successful tenure.

    Moreover, Major General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona inaugurated a 20-unit, 2-bedroom accommodation facility and a parade square at the Command headquarters.

    These facilities, constructed under the leadership of Brigadier General Charles Agyemang Prempeh, aim to enhance the welfare of military personnel and maximize productivity.

    “To our Ghana soldiers, I would like to applaud your commitment, dedication, and greater sacrifices you make on a daily basis to ensure peace and security in your area of operational responsibility as well as in the nation as a whole. And much will be expected of each one of us. We have a greater responsibility to ensure a free, fair, and transparent election by performing our duties professionally at all times.

    “I would therefore like to entreat commanders at all levels to ensure that troops placed under their charge live up to expectation and to provide the right kind of leadership during this auspicious period.”

    “Let me also take the opportunity to remind you all about the looming threat of terrorism in our sub-region and the fact that we are by no means immune to the threat that they pose. We all, therefore, have the responsibility to train and be adequately prepared to respond appropriately promptly to any imminent attack,” he stated.

  • Kenyan cult leader accused of terrorism following killings

    Kenyan cult leader accused of terrorism following killings

    A Kenyan cult leader is being accused of killing a lot of people and causing terror. Prosecutors say he will be charged with murder and terrorism.

    Paul Mackenzie was taken by police in April after they found hundreds of dead bodies. Some of the people had died because they didn’t eat enough food.

    Kenyan lawyers say that he and 94 other people will be accused in a court in Malindi on Wednesday.

    The pastor says he is not responsible for the deaths.

    429 people, including children, have been found buried in a remote forest called Shakahola, which is about a two-hour drive west of Malindi. Many looked very hungry, but some, including children, may have been hurt.

    Mr Mackenzie is said to have told people in his church to go there and get ready for the end of the world.

    One person told the media that in January of last year, they were told to start fasting so they could “go to heaven. ”

    Mr Mackenzie said the deaths couldn’t be his fault because he closed his church in 2019.

    The investigators asked for him to stay in jail for a longer time while they kept looking for evidence.

    They said they have enough proof to accuse him and the others of crimes like murder, assault and helping a terrorist act.

    They are also accused of “hurting a child on purpose”, according to a statement from the head of public prosecutions.

    The list of charges came out a week after the court told the prosecutors they had two weeks to share them, or the suspects might be let go.

    64 out of the 95 people suspected of being involved were found in Shakahola. At first, they were thought to be victims and were taken to a rescue center.

    However, investigators later discovered that a lot of them had kids who had passed away in the forest.

    Some people had lied about their names and who they were and didn’t say where their kids were.

    Last November, Mr Mackenzie was found guilty of running a film studio without a valid filming license. He was also accused of distributing films without permission.

    More update on this story soon.

  • Army readying to deal with terrorism with training exercises

    Army readying to deal with terrorism with training exercises

    General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Southern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Brigadier General Michael Ayisi Amoah, has stated that the routine field training exercises conducted by the army are aimed at preparing troops to effectively address potential terrorism threats.

    Brig Gen Ayisi emphasized that the army’s ability to respond to both domestic and external threats to the country relies on these training exercises. This training is essential to keep personnel vigilant and enhance their overall readiness to tackle such threats.

    “This is to test our level of readiness, skills and preparations for any eventuality. We have been faced with terrorist threats, secessionism and other threats that have the potency of destabilising our country. As mandated by our constitution, we are the primary institution to ensure both internal and external stability, peace and tranquillity and so it is good that we train hard”, he said. 

    The GOC elaborated on this during an interview conducted on the second day, which also marked the culmination of the 2023 Exercise Kullum Shiri. This exercise took place at the 64 Infantry Battalion Training Camp in Asutuare, located in the Greater Accra Region.

    He further suggested that the nation should engage in a thorough analysis of potential threats, create diverse scenarios, and devise corresponding strategies. These measures would aid in the development of additional contingency plans to effectively mitigate these threats.

    “It is important that we take training as seriously as we can to be ready. We always say ‘ever ready’ for any task that comes up. We are all aware of current threats and challenges facing our nation and the subregion, and so the only rational thing for us to do is to prepare adequately to mitigate the effects of such threats on our stability and development,” he said.

    He emphasized that the selection of specific geographical terrain for training exercises was not designed to penalize or cause discomfort to the troops. Instead, it was intended to prepare them for real-world threats that could emerge at any moment.

    On the second day of Exercise Kullum Shiri, a series of training activities took place. These included extensive long marches, covering several kilometers, undertaken by Army officers and personnel wearing full battle gear and carrying ammunition.

    These exercises were complemented by other operations, such as navigation challenges and obstacle crossings, culminating in a shooting competition involving various participating units in Exercise Kullum Shiri.

    The event involved hundreds of uniformed personnel from three battalions: the 1 Battalion of Infantry (1BN) stationed in Michelle Camp, Tema; the 2 Battalion of Infantry (2BN) stationed in Takoradi; and the 5 Battalion of Infantry (5BN) located in Burma Camp, Accra. Additionally, two regiments, the 48 Engineers based in Teshie and the 66 Artillery stationed in Ho, along with the Headquarters of Southern Command Camp in Teshie, were also part of the exercise.

    Numerous prizes, including undisclosed cash awards, were presented to both units and individual personnel who demonstrated exceptional performance during the two-day training.

    The top position in Navigation and the first runner-up were secured by 2BN, while 5BN clinched the second runner-up position. The 48 Engineers Regiment, in addition to claiming the third runner-up position, also earned recognition for excelling in the best obstacle crossing category and the best in orders team category.

    Maj Gen Joseph Prince Osei-Owusu, who served as the Guest of Honour and holds the position of Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Logistics at the General Headquarters, concluded the event by affirming that the exercise aligns with the Chief of Army Staff’s vision. This vision aims to create a highly motivated, well-trained, and well-equipped Army comprising quality officers and personnel capable of fulfilling the army’s responsibilities.

    He emphasized that this training was imperative to establish a consistently prepared standing army capable of addressing emerging threats, including the rapid spread of violent extremism in the West African sub-region. Such threats pose a risk to Ghana’s territorial integrity and security.

  •  Coup in Niger a big blow to West Africa region

     Coup in Niger a big blow to West Africa region

    The announcement of the coup in Niger is a significant setback for the leadership of the West Africa regional bloc, Ecowas, and further exacerbates the constitutional crises in the region.

    Over the past three years, military coups have toppled the presidents of Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.

    Similarly, in Niger, the soldiers have pointed to the deteriorating security situation and poor governance as the rationale behind their takeover of the government.

    This trend raises questions about potential external influences driving these military coups in the former French colonies.

    Just two weeks ago, Ecowas chairman President Bola Tinubu expressed grave concern over the escalating levels of terrorism and the emerging pattern of coups in West Africa. He called for urgent and concerted action to address these issues.

    In response to the current situation in Niger, President Tinubu has dispatched the President of Benin, Patrice Talon, to mediate and seek a resolution.

  • Prosecute refugees caught with weapons – Security analyst to govt

    Prosecute refugees caught with weapons – Security analyst to govt

    Security Analyst, Dr. Adam Bonaa, is firmly advocating for the prosecution of refugees apprehended with weapons and ammunition at the Ghana-Burkina Faso border.

    In light of the escalating hostility within the West Africa sub-region, he believes that individuals, even if they are refugees, who are suspected to be involved in terrorism, militancy, or armed conflict, should not be exempted from facing legal consequences under any circumstances.

    “Some of them could be terrorists or are combatants fleeing from the conflicts they have started in their country. Prosecute those caught and send them back to their home country to serve whatever sentence given them,” Dr Bonaa said.

    Following the arrest of refugees disguised as nursing mothers and found in possession of weapons, the National Security has significantly heightened surveillance measures at the country’s border with Burkina Faso.

    In response to this concerning incident, Dr. Bonaa emphasized the importance of the State working closely with neighboring countries, particularly those affected by conflicts, to gather comprehensive profiles of these alleged refugees. He further recommended that their fingerprints be taken before repatriating them.

    In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he said: “The chances are that some of them will go, disguise themselves and come back again. Others too run into Ghana when the heat is on in their country, go back to stoke the fire when everything seemed to have died out.”

    Dr Bonaa said though Ghana was a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the arrested refugees should face the full rigours of the law without any fear that Ghana could be seen in bad light by the international community.

    “The international community should respect our sovereignty. As a member of the Commonwealth Nations and UN, we shall not allow anybody to come and destabilise this country,” he said.

    Earlier, the Deputy Defence Minister, Kwaku Amankwah Manu, stated that this recent development has compelled security agencies to strengthen their efforts in screening asylum seekers. He asserted that the government is resolute in not compromising the safety of Ghanaians in favor of protecting the rights of asylum seekers.

    “So, we really need to be on the lookout, we have the Ghanaian people to protect, we have properties to protect, we cannot say that because we want to be compassionate, we will not look at the security of our nation,” he said.

    Ranking Member on Defence and Interior committee of Parliament, James Agalga, said government had every right to screen the refugees, but must also be mindful of international treaties that protected the rights of the asylum seekers.

    “Government clearly has a commitment not to repatriate refugees who are refugees where they may face very serious threats to their lives and fundamental freedoms,” he said.

  • Man accused of setting fire to South African parliament claims he did so on purpose

    Man accused of setting fire to South African parliament claims he did so on purpose

    In a courtroom outburst on Thursday, a man accused of terrorism in connection with a fire that severely damaged South Africa’s Parliament building last year claimed that he “burned it intentionally.”

    Zandile Mafe yelled and pointed his finger, threatening to “burn it more” if the Parliament was not relocated from Cape Town to either Bloemfontein or Pretoria.

    In January of last year, a massive fire that tore through many buildings, including the main chamber where members sit, severely destroyed the historic Parliament complex. It still needs to be fully fixed, which would cost about $120 million and take at least three years, according to estimates.

    Mafe was arrested in the Parliament precinct soon after the fire started. He was charged with breaking and entering, arson and terrorism, but his case has been held up after a judge ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he is fit to stand trial.

    The judge overseeing Thursday’s court appearance allowed Mafe to finish his rant, saying he didn’t want to “exacerbate” his “mental condition,” according to South African media reports.

    Judge Nathan Erasmus then said an expert report indicated that Mafe was not able to understand the wrongfulness of the acts he is accused of, although a final decision on whether there will be a criminal trial was postponed until next month.

    Mafe had also challenged the court to give him a sentence of 25 years to life, which is what he could face if his trial goes ahead.

    “I’m not afraid of a life sentence,” he shouted.

    The fire at the seat of South Africa’s democracy raised criticism of the security procedures in place at the Parliament whose members were on a break and the buildings were largely empty. No one was hurt.

    Mafe has said he is angry at various issues in South Africa. He has called the opposition political party that runs the Cape Town municipality racist against Black people and has also accused the government of failing to help the poor.

  • Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia agree with UK to combat terrorism

    Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia agree with UK to combat terrorism

    In order to address the root causes of the region’s instability, the UK struck a deal with Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

    Speaking to the BBC, UK Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said the agreement – worth some $12.5m (£9.9m) – will support the three countries to come up with policies in their fight against terrorism.

    This is the first time high-level officials from Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia have accepted international support to address a common problem along their borders.

    These borderlands are usually isolated and insecure, which makes it difficult for countries to monitor threats.

    Mr Tugendhat believes that al-Shabab militants conduct terror activities in these areas because there is no governing authority.

    The militants have carried out a series of attacks within the region in recent months and the group remains a threat.

    The funding from the UK is also aimed at empowering local communities to effectively report suspected terror-related incidents.

  • Ghana at risk of terrorism due to high unemployment numbers – Security Analyst

    Ghana at risk of terrorism due to high unemployment numbers – Security Analyst

    A Security analyst, Adib Saani, has cited unemployment as one of the major causes of terrorism.

    He noted that it is part of our human vulnerability and that it has been proven to create terrorism, rebellion, criminality, and other security concerns. 

    He was reacting to the Ghana Statistical Service’s most recent unemployment numbers. 

    According to the data, unemployment has risen from 19% to more than 25%. 

    The reported figure revealed two-thirds of the unemployed were females. 

    Adib Saani, in response to the report, stated that these are concerning data that must be addressed.

    According to him, we play politics with unemployment, and he doesn’t accept these stats because some of the jobs listed as jobs aren’t. 

    “We pretend to employ people, and they also pretend to work,” he bemoaned. Graduates from our universities, unemployed nurses, and others are all over, so when I look at these figures, I know something is wrong. These statistics are typically intended to make the government appear good. The unemployment rate is alarming. The remedy was successful, and the kikes of NABCO and others no longer had jobs. 

    What you should do is create an environment conducive to the growth of the private sector. Several businesses in the country are experiencing difficulties. This government vowed to shift Ghana from taxing to production, but we are currently paying historic levels of taxation.” 

    He called the scenario “irresponsible governance” and “unfortunate.” 

    “On an unprecedented scale, Ghanaians are willing to travel outside the country to seek greener pastures. Several people call me requesting to know if I could assist them travel or leave the country because the situation in Ghana is terrible. Our minimum wage is the worst in the world.”

  • Japan promises to assist Mozambique battle terrorism

    Japan promises to assist Mozambique battle terrorism

    The prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, says his nation is prepared to help Mozambique combat terrorism.

    The Japanese PM is visiting Mozambique as part of his six-day tour that took him to three other African countries – Ghana, Kenya and Egypt.

    He said Japan was interested in financing the fight against terrorism in northern Cabo Delgado province, which would allow Japanese companies that are part of the consortiums exploiting natural gas in the Rovuma basin, to operate in a safe environment.

    The province in the north has been besieged by a Islamic militant insurgency for years.

    Mr Kishida and Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi spoke of a need for Japanese private investment in “structural areas” of the economy, with a view to concrete results in bilateral co-operation.

    Mr Nyusi urged the Japanese to explore investment opportunities in transport, agriculture, industry and tourism.

  • Ghana, four other West African countries to receive $100m US aid to combat terrorism

    Five countries in coastal West Africa will benefit from a $100 million aid to help combat possible extreme terrorism.

    This was announced by Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, on the second day of her visit to Ghana.

    The countries include Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Guinea, and Togo.

    This is in line with the US initiative to boost it eliminate violence and propel stability in areas vulnerable to conflict. 

    This was announced by US Vice President Kamala Harris during her visit to the Jubilee House in Accra.

    She was hosted by President Akufo-Addo where they both held pertinent discussions of mutual interest.

    “Today I am pleased to announce $100 million in support of Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo,” she said on Monday.

    “Last week President Joe Biden announced a strategic plan for coastal West Africa as part of the United States strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability.”

    She expressed hope that the funding will help implement the policy outlined by US President Joe Biden in the strategic plan.

    Madam Harris is currently embarking on a one-week tour which will see her visit Ghana and two other African countries – Tanzania and Zambia.

  • You are practicing investigative terrorism, not journalism – Judge tells Anas Aremeyaw Anas

    You are practicing investigative terrorism, not journalism – Judge tells Anas Aremeyaw Anas

    Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has been informed by the Accra High Court that what he does is “investigative terrorism,” not investigative journalism.

    This came after the court dismissed a GHC25 million defamation lawsuit Kennedy Agyapong, the MP for Assin Central, had filed against a journalist.

    The media indicated that Judge Justice Eric Baah, determined that the MP refer to Anas as “evil, corrupt, a blackmailer and an extortionist.”

    He added that “I find claims by the plaintiff (Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed.”

    Background

    Sometime in 2018, the ace international investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas dragged the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, to court for defaming him.

    Anas was asking the High Court to award aggravated damages to the tune of GH¢25 million arising from defamatory materials published by the MP.

    He said the MP had been publishing materials in his bid to discredit him after releasing an explosive piece on the rot in Ghana football.

    Displeased with the MP’s actions, Anas, through his lawyer, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, sued Mr Agyapong for the award of general damages for defamation in the defendant’s publications.

    A journalist, Mr Listowell Yesu Bukarson, has been granted the lawful attorney to stand in for Anas.

    Publications

    The publication complained of are May 29, 2018, live programme in Twi on Adom TV, where Mr Agyapong categorically stated that Anas was a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist and evil.

    According to the statement of claim, the defendant, in a similar manner, published defamatory words on May 31, 2018, via Oman FM, a private radio station owned by the defendant.

    The statement of claim also stated that the defendant published more defamatory materials against the plaintiff via other platforms to the extent of releasing pictures purported to be those of the investigative journalist in his bid to blow the latter’s cover.

  • Man detained over suspicion of terrorism offences following recreational center stabbing

    Man detained over suspicion of terrorism offences following recreational center stabbing

    A Cheltenham resident, 29, has been detained on suspicion of terrorism-related offences.

    The news was confirmed by Gloucestershire Constabulary this evening.

    The arrest relates to an altercation that occurred outside a gym in Tommy Taylors Lane, Cheltenham, on Thursday at around 9.15 p.m.

    A woman was stabbed and suffered critical wounds.
    She was rushed to the hospital for treatment, and her condition is stable.

    The centre was closed off due to a ‘police incident’ on Thursday (Picture: BPM Media)
    The centre was closed off due to a ‘police incident’ on Thursday (Picture: BPM Media)

    Police say the man has been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism contrary to Section 41 of the Terrorism Act (2000), as well as on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act (2006).

    Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone of Gloucestershire Constabulary said: ‘I would like to reassure those living locally or visiting the county that we believe this was an isolated incident and we are not aware of any wider threat to members of the public.

    ‘We are working closely with our partners in Counter Terrorism Policing.

    ‘We appreciate that an incident of this nature may be concerning and we would encourage people to contact us via 101 with any additional information they may have about the incident.’

  • Terrorism is closer than we think – Expert warns

    Terrorism is closer than we think – Expert warns

    Security Expert, Adib Saani has expressed concern over the escalation of the conflict in Bawku in the Upper East Region, contending that it is a recipe for terrorism in the country.

    “I was reading a certain report that points to the possibility of terrorists instrumentalising the conflict situation in Bawku and the need for us to be very careful because high-handedness can lead to more people joining the terrorists,” he indicated.

    Speaking on Prime Morning, Adib Saani said that there have already been several attempts by terrorists to invade the country.

    “Besides, about a year ago, there was a police cable that pointed to the presence of certain individuals from Burkina Faso who have actually come to fight in Bawku and were on their way back hence the Upper East Regional Police Command should be on the lookout.”

    “Not too long after that, there was another national security information that pointed to some movements concerning persons fitting the description of suspected terrorists in that area, so it wouldn’t be wild for anyone to pose it that perhaps they might have even come in already and either sides of the conflict might have made gestures to these militants to join them in the fight”, he said.

    The security expert continued that the country recently received refugees from Burkina Faso due to their deteriorating security situation and that there is a high probability that some terrorists may disguise themselves as refugees just to join them and enter into Ghana.

    “Because usually the movement is uncoordinated, unplanned, it’s sporadic, when they attack the villages at night they just leave, whatever they wear is what they enter into Ghana with and because we don’t have relief agencies on hand to receive them, by the time they get to them they have moved to Kumasi and other parts of the country”, Adib said.

    He also mentioned that the Burkinabe authorities gave weapons to its civilians in the name of volunteerism against the spread of jihadism hence terrorists go to villages attacking the volunteers.

    “The volunteers might mix up with the refugees and come into Ghana and the probability of the terrorists chasing the volunteers into Ghana’s territory one day is very high so we need to really be on the lookout”.

    Adib said that government cannot do this alone hence it should collaborate with CSOs and NGOs that are active on the ground especially in implementing the “See something, say something” policy.

    He added that from a recent survey they conducted, it is evident that the ordinary Ghanaian has little knowledge in security culture and even the identification of terrorists.

    He therefore urged government and other security agencies to deeply educate Ghanaians and create more security awareness in the country.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Police declare Wieambilla shooting as ‘a religiously-motivated terrorist attack’

    Police declare Wieambilla shooting as ‘a religiously-motivated terrorist attack’

    It has been determined that a shooting ambush that killed six people in a small Australian town was religiously motivated.


    Authorities say it is the first time Christian extremist ideology has been linked to a terror attack in Australia.

    When Nathaniel, Stacey, and Gareth Train opened fire on a rural Queensland property last December, two police officers and a neighbour were killed.

    After a protracted standoff with police, the trio was shot and killed.

    Police have been looking into whether Nathaniel, Gareth, and Stacey, who had been married to each man at various points in their lives, were involved in any conspiracies.

    Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Tracey Lindford said on Thursday that their investigation had found the Trains “acted as an autonomous cell” and “executed a religiously-motivated terrorist attack.”

    They subscribed to a Christian fundamentalist belief system known as “pre-millennialism”, and had targeted police.

    “They did refer to police as monsters and demons – as evil.”

    “Christian extremist ideology has been linked to other attacks around the world, but this is the first time we’ve seen it appear in Australia,” Ms Lindford said.

    The attack was premeditated, she said, and investigators had found “significant evidence” of advance preparation and planning.

    The property – owned by Gareth and Stacey – had been set up with camouflaged hideouts, barriers, dirt mounts, guns, knives, CCTV and mirrors on trees.

    While there’s “no evidence” that any one else in Australia participated or assisted in the attack, Ms Linford said the Trains have been linked to individuals in the United States. Police have shared information with investigators there.

    “They’ll determine what investigations they might make as a result of that information,” she said.

    Nathaniel Train
    Image caption,Nathaniel Train had taught in schools in New South Wales and Queensland

    Police had travelled to the remote inland property – about 270km (168 miles) west of Brisbane – on 12 December to check on Nathaniel Train who had been reported missing in New South Wales.

    Four officers were inundated with gunfire after leaving their cars and approaching the house, owned by Gareth and Stacey.

    Two constables – Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29 – were hit immediately, then reportedly shot again, execution style. Another officer was injured but escaped, while the fourth was terrorised by the shooters who lit fires to try and flush her out.

    A 58-year-old neighbour, Alan Dare, who turned up at the property to help, was fatally shot too.

    Ms Lindford said there was “not one catalyst” for the trio’s extremism.

    But Nathaniel’s 2021 heart attack “was a profound moment for him and his belief in God,” she said. Gareth and Stacey’s losing their school jobs due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates also increased their anti-government views.

    Ms Lindford said their mental health had also been considered by investigators, but ruled an unlikely factor.

    “We quite often do see in our terrorist investigations, people who are impacted by mental health because they are easily radicalised.”

    “When you’ve got three people acting together, it’s challenging to say that there’s a mental health issue in this instance.”

    The attack will be investigated during a coronial inquiry, which will make final determinations on the Trains’ motive, the police commissioner added.

  • Poverty, main cause of terrorism in Africa – UN claims

    Poverty, main cause of terrorism in Africa – UN claims

    A rescue operation is under way across much of southern Turkey and northern Syria following a huge earthquake that has killed more than 2,300 people.

    The BBC’S Focus on Africa radio has spoken to several Ghanaian students who are living in nearby cities which were affected by the earthquake.

    Ibrahim, a Ghanaian student living in Konya, together with his partner and one-week old baby, says that he is thankful to be alive after the earthquake struck.

    “It was in the dawn when we heard the shaking of the land. We tried to gather the family and take them out of the house. I feel very sad and very sorry.”

    Focus on Africa also spoke to Ghanaian student Nasser Abdallah, who is studying in Adana, 150 miles (241km) from Gazientep – the city closest to the epicentre.

    “Early in the morning I was working on my laptop and all of a sudden I saw my laptop started to shake. It started from a mild shake to a very heavy shake.”

    “We have been told that no one should enter their house until further notice.”

    Source: BBC

  • Israeli police ordered to remove Palestine flags from public places

    Israeli police ordered to remove Palestine flags from public places

    Waving the Palestinian flag, according to far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is an endorsement of “terrorism.”

    Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s new far-right Minister of National Security, has ordered police to remove Palestinian flags from public areas because they constitute “terrorism.”

    Israeli law does not forbid Palestinian flags, but police and soldiers are allowed to take them down if they pose a threat to the peace.

    Sunday’s directive from Ben-Gvir, who heads the ultranationalist Jewish Power party in Benjamin Netanyahu’s new far-right government and as national security minister oversees the police, appears to signal a hardline and uncompromising attitude towards Palestinian expressions of identity and free speech and pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

    The display of the Palestinian flag in Israel has, in practice, long been clamped down on by Israeli authorities, with Palestinians regarding such moves as an attempt to suppress Palestinian identity.

    Ben-Gvir’s orders came after a mass anti-government protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday, where some demonstrators waved the Palestinian flag.

    Protesters labelled the recently sworn-in government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “fascist” and advocated for equality and coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis.

    Writing on Twitter, Netanyahu on Sunday said the presence of the Palestinian flag at the Tel Aviv protest was “wild incitement”.

    Ben-Gvir’s directive also follows the release last week of a long-serving Palestinian prisoner, convicted of kidnapping and killing an Israeli soldier in 1983, who waved a Palestinian flag while receiving a hero’s welcome in his village in northern Israel.

    Longest serving Palestinian prisoner, Karim Younis, is welcomed at his village, after he was freed from Israeli jail
    Younis was convicted in 1983 for the killing three years earlier of an Israeli soldier, Avraham Bromberg, in the occupied Golan Heights [Ammar Awad/Reuters]

    Ben-Gvir, in a statement, said waving the Palestinian flag is an act in support of “terrorism”.

    “It cannot be that lawbreakers wave terrorist flags, incite and encourage terrorism, so I ordered the removal of flags supporting terrorism from the public space and to stop the incitement against Israel,” Ben-Gvir said.

    Palestinian citizens of Israel account for about one-fifth of the population and most are descendants of Palestinians who remained within the state after its formation in 1948, an event known to Palestinians as the Nakba, or catastrophe.

    The majority of the population of pre-1948 historic Palestine had been Palestinians.

    They have long debated their place in Israel’s politics, balancing their Palestinian heritage with their Israeli citizenship, with the vast majority identifying as or with the Palestinians.

    Many Palestinians, both in Israel and in the occupied territory, are fearful of the new government’s policies towards them, in light of the strong presence of far-right settler groups within it, with Ben-Gvir in particular previously convicted of inciting racism towards Arabs.

    In some of its first moves over the past few days, the Israeli government rescinded the travel permit of the Palestinian foreign minister Riad al-Malki on Sunday and decided to withhold $39m in revenues from the Palestinian Authority on Friday.

    The decisions were part of an effort to penalise Palestinians for asking the International Court of Justice to give an opinion on the Israeli occupation, which is illegal under international law.

    Source: Aljazeera.com
  • 28 bodies found dead in Burkina Faso

    28 bodies found dead in Burkina Faso

    The deaths of 28 people, whose bodies were discovered in the town of Nouna in the country’s northwest, are being investigated by the Burkinabe authorities.

    The killings were discovered the night of December 30, according to a statement from the government, which also denounced the “unacceptable violence.”

    According to prosecutors, the victims were shot to death, but neither the identity of the perpetrators nor the nature of the attacks were revealed, according to the Reuters news agency.

    The authorities have called for calm pending the outcome of the investigation.

    “This drama occurs at a time when Burkina Faso has initiated an operation of mobilisation of the whole people for unity of action in the fight against terrorism,” the government statement said.

    The West African country is battling an Islamist insurgency has already displaced nearly two million people, and prompted two military coups within a year.

    Source:BBC.com

  • Which EU politicians refused to label Russia a sponsor of terror?

    Many on the far right and some on the left were outraged by the symbolic declaration of Moscow as a terrorist regime.

    The European Parliament voted on Wednesday to label Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism” for its involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

    “The deliberate attacks and atrocities carried out by Russian forces and their proxies against civilians in Ukraine, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure and other serious violations of international and humanitarian law, amount to acts of terror and constitute war crimes,” the European Parliament stated.

    In total, 494 European Parliament (MEPS) voted in favour of the resolution, 58 opposed it, and 44 abstained.

     

    The largely symbolic move is unlikely to make an impact, because the European Union – unlike the United States – does not have the legal framework to designate countries. Across the Atlantic, on the US list are North Korea, Syria, Cuba and Iran.

    The EU established its terror list in 2001, following the September 11 attacks in New York.

    It includes people, groups and entities and is reviewed at least every six months.

    ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda armed groups are among those currently on the list.

    Which members voted against the resolution?

    Russia is the first country to be declared a state sponsor of terrorism by the European Parliament.

    However, members were not unanimous in their voting, with a larger proportion of the right-wing bloc of the Parliament against the association of Russia with terrorism.

    Twenty-six members of the far-right political group Identity and Democracy voted against designating Russia as a sponsor of terrorism.

    Here is a breakdown of votes by country, home country party, and member:

    These French politicians who voted against the resolution are all members of the National Rally or Rassemblement National, which is led by Marine Le Pen.

    • Mathilde Androuët
    • Jordan Bardella
    • Aurélia Beigneux
    • Dominique Bilde
    • Annika Bruna
    • Patricia Chagnon
    • Marie Dauchy
    • Jean-Paul Garraud
    • Catherine Griset
    • Jean-François Jalkh
    • France Jamet
    • Virginie Joron
    • Jean-Lin Lacapelle
    • Gilles Lebreton
    • Thierry Mariani
    • Philippe Olivier
    • André Rougé

    The following German politicians who voted against the resolution are all members of the far-right Alternative for Germany or Alternative für Deutschland party (AfD).

    • Christine Anderson
    • Gunnar Beck
    • Nicolaus Fest
    • Maximilian Krah
    • Joachim Kuhs
    • Guido Reil
    • Bernhard Zimniok

    Czech MEPs, who are members of the populist Freedom and Direct Democracy party, or Svoboda a přímá demokracie:

    • Hynek Blaško
    • Ivan David

    One member of the centre-right European Conservatives and Reformist Group voted against the resolution:

    • Emmanouil  Fragkos, whose party in Greece is Greek Solution, or Elliniki Lusi-Greek Solution

    Twelve members from the centre-left Progressive Alliance of the Socialists and Democrats voted against the resolution.

    From Bulgaria – all with the centre-left Bulgarian Socialist Party:

    • Ivo Hristov
    • Tsvetelina Penkova
    • Sergei Stanishev
    • Petar Vitanov
    • Elena Yoncheva

    From Germany – all with the Social Democratic Party of Germany or Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD), which is the party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz:

    • Joachim Schuster
    • Dietmar Köster

    From Italy – these three politicians belong to Partito Democratico or the Democratic Party:

    • Pietro Bartolo
    • Andrea Cozzolino
    • Massimiliano Smeriglio

    From Slovakia:

    • Monika Beňová (SMER-Sociálna demokracia, or Direction – Slovak Social Democracy)
    • Robert Hajšel (Independent)

    Ten members of the Left group in the European Parliament voted against the resolution:

    From Belgium:

    • Marc Botenga (Parti du Travail de Belgique or Workers’ Party of Belgium –  which is a Marxist party)

    From Cyprus:

    • Niyazi Kizilyürek (Progressive Party of Working People – Left – New Forces)

    From Czech Republic:

    • Kateřina Konečná (Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy, or Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia)

    From Germany (​​DIE LINKE. party, or The Left party):

    • Özlem Demirel
    • Martin Schirdewan

    From Portugal (Partido Comunista Português, or Portuguese Communist Party – a Marxist-Leninist group)

    • Sandra Pereira
    • João Pimenta Lopes

    From Ireland (Independents 4 Change):

    • Clare Daly
    • Mick Wallace

    From Spain:

    • Miguel Urbán Crespo (Anticapitalistas)

    Nine MEPs who are not affiliated with any political grouping also voted against the resolution:

    • Nicolas Bay (France – Reconquête!, or Reconquest – a nationalist party)
    • Francesca Donato (Italy – now an independent but formerly with the far-right Lega Nord, or Northern league headed by Matteo Salvini)
    • Marcel De Graaff (Netherlands – Forum voor Democratie, or Forum for Democracy, a right-wing populist party)
    • Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (Greece – Communist Party of Greece)
    • Kostas Papadakis (Greece – Communist Party of Greece)
    • Miroslav Radačovský (Slovakia – Slovak PATRIOT, which is a right-wing party)
    • Milan Uhrík (Slovakia – Hnutie Republika or Republic – a far-right party)
    • Martin Sonneborn (Germany – Die Partei or The Party, which is a satirical party)
    • Tatjana Ždanoka (Latvia – Latvijas Krievu savienība or the Latvian Russian Union, which is backed by ethnic Russians and other Russian-speaking minorities)

    Source: Aljazeera.com 

     

  • British troops already in Ghana training Armed Forces, we don’t intend to send more – UK government

    The British government has denied reports that it intends to deploy some Special Forces to Ghana following the withdrawal of some 300 peacekeepers from Mali in the wake of frosty relations with Bamako over the involvement of Russian mercenaries in the fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel.

    UK-based ‘The Telegraph’ in a report stated that British ministers are also expected to be in Accra to hammer out a new security agreement which will position Ghana and by extension Burkina Faso as the new front line against terrorism.

    The report said it was unclear if the move was a face-saving operation in the wake of the mission in Mali being shut down or something more significant as British forces already train troops in Ghana.

    Reacting to The Telegraph’s reportage, the UK Minister for Armed Forces and Veterans indicated that the media outlet misunderstood the briefing they had from the UK government.

    According to James Heappey, British troops are already in Ghana training the Ghana Armed Forces and the UK government has no plans of sending more troops to Ghana.

    “I think they’ve just slightly misunderstood whatever they were briefed. The reality is that there are already UK troops here in Ghana training your Armed Forces. There is currently no plan to send anybody else.

    “If American, British and French troops were to come to Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana Togo and Benin, we won’t make things better because that doesn’t help. And that’s why your President entirely is right. This needs to be a West African solution to a West African problem,” Heappey told Accra-based Joy News on Tuesday, November 22.

    The British government has denied claims that it has been invited to send Special Forces to Ghana after it was forced to withdraw all its peacekeepers from Mali.

    Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana has also denied The Telegraph’s reportage.

    A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said the Government of Ghana has had no interactions with the UK Government aimed at deploying UK soldiers to Ghana as described in the story.

    The statement explained that the presence of the UK Minister for the Armed Forces in Accra was to participate in the Accra Initiative Conference on the 21st and 22nd of November 2022.

    “The Government of Ghana wishes to state that the information regarding British Special Forces is false. Neither Ghana nor any other member of the Accra Initiative has discussed with any partner, any such request nor contemplated the involvement of foreign forces in any of their activities,” the statement from the Ministry stressed.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Burkina Faso recruits 30,000 new army volunteers to fight terror

    Burkina Faso has launched a drive to recruit 50,000 civilian defense volunteers. Among them, volunteers for the defense of the homeland. The men and women are on a mission to protect, the people and property of their localities of origin alongside the defense and security forces.

    Jihadi violence has killed thousands of people since 2015. The last elected president was deposed after he faced a wave of anger over the insurgency. According to professor Zakaria Soré, the army is adjusting tactics to swell its ranks.

    Burkina Faso has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency which has continually extended its deadly grip, called for civilian backup in October.

    Captain Ibrahim Traore has been appointed as president of Burkina Faso after Paul-Henri Damiba was removed in the West African country’s second coup in less than nine months.

    Enlistment officially ended on November 18 and more than 30,000 people registered aged 18 to 77 according to government data.

    The volunteers will receive 14 days of civic and military training before being armed and provided with means of communication.

    Source: NewsCentral.com 

     

  • 12th edition of the Récréatrâles honors victims of terrorism in the Sahel

    The largest theater festival on the continent is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary in Ouagadougou. In a context marked by political instability and the resurgence of terrorist violence, this 12th edition of Récréâtrales had a sad theme that reflects an equally sad reality – violence in the Sahel.

    The festival chose for one of the two opening shows, a play entitled “Tu dis PDI” [You say IDP, internally displaced person, editor’s note], which mixes dance and theater and song, performed in Pulaar and Moré by women victims of terrorism and refugees in the town of Kaya, in the north-central part of the country.

    Mariame Ouédraogo is one of these women victims of terrorism and refuged in Kaya that became an actress thanks to Recreatrales. She agreed to act in the play to serve the cause of social reconstruction and the de-stigmatization of relations between Peuhl and Mossi by participating in a play in which Peuhl and Mossi play together.

    “This work has done me a lot of good, most of us almost lost our memory in sadness, but this show has allowed us to find the joy of living” she says.

    These women are also featured in “Face-“, a photographic series created by the Cameroonian photographer, director and novelist Osvalde Lewat, which seeks to highlight the dignity and greatness of these women by offering them a different view of their situation, that of strong and fighting women.

    “I met these women and I must admit that the first word that came to my mind was the word of the exhibition…FACE. Women who stand up, who face, who fight. Women who faced the disaster that became their life, since they had to abandon everything to live in improvised dwellings, sometimes in the market. I was particularly moved to see that in spite of all that, it was their faces that gave this abstract term, internally displaced people, meaning,” stated Lewat.

    Throughout the festival, which as always takes place in the family courtyards of the Bougsemtenga neighborhood and in the famous Rue 9.32, host of the Récréâtrales, the woman on the photos from the “Face-” series will be present.

    In a country fractured politically, socially and security-wise, these women who did not speak to each other before, who lived in different refugee camps, and who today perform together in the same show, are the symbol of a possible convergence and reconciliation, thanks in particular to art. Moreover, as Aristide Tarnagda, festival director says, devoting an exhibition to these women, who until now have been drowned in the flood of internally displaced persons, “is to participate in their recovery, in the return of their dignity, their beauty, their faith in themselves that has been stolen by those who kill, pillage, rape, and humiliate.”

    In Burkina Faso alone, approximately two million people have fled their homes because of terrorist and armed gang attacks.

    The organizers of this 12th edition of the festival are unanimous, when a country goes through difficult times; it is felt in the artistic creation because the pain as any feeling cannot be ignored.

    Since 2002, the Récréâtrales are “a pan-African space for writing, creation and theatrical dissemination. A space that allows young artists authors, directors, scenographers and actors, to create, share and live from their art.

     

    Source: African News

  • Terrorism in Nigeria : US orders families of embassy employees to depart Nigeria

    The State Department has ordered that non-emergency US embassy employees and their families leave Abuja, Nigeria, “due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks there.”

    In addition, the department issued a “Level 3” travel advisory for the entire country, urging people to “reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and maritime crime.”

    The State Department authorised the departure of non-emergency US government employees and family members earlier this week, after previously warning of planned terror attacks in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

    “Targets may include, but are not limited to, government buildings, places of worship, schools, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, athletic gatherings, transport terminals, law enforcement facilities, and international organizations,” its October 23 advisory said of the alleged plots.

    In an updated travel advisory issued Thursday, the State Department flagged 15 other Nigerian states in its “Do Not Travel” list due to risks ranging from terrorism to kidnapping and criminal activities perpetrated at sea.

    In a similar advisory to British nationals, the UK government advised against nonessential travel to the Nigerian capital, while warning against all travel to 12 Nigerian states.

    A popular Abuja mall closed its doors Thursday for the protection of staff and customers, its management said, adding that it was reviewing the security situation in consultation with authorities.

    Nigeria’s police chief, Usman Alkali Baba, said there were “no imminent threats” in the country’s Federal Capital Territory.

    “The Inspector General of Police, therefore, allays the fear of residents in the FCT and admonishes them to go about their lawful businesses and normal social lives/engagements as all hands are on deck to nip any security threat in the bud and respond to distress calls promptly,” a statement by his office said Thursday.

    “The IGP similarly reiterates the commitment of the Nigeria Police to eliminating all threats, as well as protection of lives and property of all residents of the country,” the statement added.

    Insurgency has remained rife in northeastern Nigeria, even as the country also struggles to contain motorbike riding gangs known locally as ‘bandits’ who carry out deadly attacks on communities in the northwestern region.

    Nigeria also grapples with widespread kidnappings for ransom and maritime crimes in its southern region.

    Hundreds of prisoners were broken free in a prison raid in the country’s capital in July. According to authorities, all inmates linked to Boko Haram escaped during the attack.

    The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the raid.

     

  • Iran protests: Iran blacklists EU officials, entities for allegedly ‘inciting terrorism’

    Tehran sanctioned several media outlets and a French town mayor in addition to parliament members.The Iranian government has blacklisted a number of European Union officials and organizations, primarily because of their stance on the country’s ongoing protests, which Iran claims are “inciting terrorism.”

    While the bulk of the sanctions is related to recent developments concerning the weeks-long protests that erupted last month after the death of a young woman in custody, others deal with Tehran’s repeated grievances with the bloc’s officials and member states over issues that have led to longstanding political disputes.

    The Iranian foreign ministry said on Wednesday it had imposed sanctions on 12 individuals and eight organizations for their “intentional actions in supporting terrorism and terrorist groups, inciting terrorism and propagating violence and hatred that has led to riots, violence, terrorist acts and violation of human rights of the Iranian nation”.

    The sanctions entail an entry and visa ban for the individuals in addition to the confiscation of any assets they may have in Iran.

    The targeted entities include the Friends of Free Iran and the International Committee in Search of Justice, two informal groups in the European Parliament, in addition, to Stop the Bomb, an organization that has advocated sanctions on Iran with the stated goal of preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons – which Tehran maintains it will never seek.

    The Persian-language services of Germany’s Deutsche Welle and France’s RFI were also targeted, extending Iran’s push against foreign-based channels that it says are promoting “terrorism” on Iranian soil. Two directors of the German newspaper Bild were also blacklisted.

    The Karl Kolb and Rhein Bayern Fahrzeugbau companies were blacklisted for “delivering chemical gases and weapons” too late Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein, who is said to have used them against the nascent Islamic Republic during the eighth-year conflict that began with Iraq’s invasion of Iraq in 1980.

    A number of European Parliament members were also targeted, in addition to Martine Valleton, the mayor of Villepinte, a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris where French authorities said a plot had been uncovered to bomb a 2018 rally of the Mojahedin-e-Khalq group, which is outlawed in Iran. This led to the arrest of Iranian diplomat Asadollah Assadi, who served at Iran’s embassy to Austria, in Germany, and his subsequent sentencing in a Belgian court.

    The measures mark the first time Iran has officially sanctioned EU officials and institutions, a move that comes as a reaction to the bloc’s sanctions on Iran’s so-called morality police and others earlier this month over their alleged roles in what it called the “brutal repression” of the protests that have gripped Iran since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody 40 days ago.

    Separately, Iran has previously blacklisted a group of British individuals and organizations in retaliation for their sanctions related to the protests.

     

  • Estonian lawmakers brand Russia a “terrorist government”

    Estonian lawmakers blasted Moscow’s illegal acquisition of Ukrainian territory and labeled Russia a “terrorist regime.”

    The statement received 88 votes from the 101-member legislature, with 10 MPs missing and three abstaining.

    The statement said the Estonian parliament “declares Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a country that supports terrorism.

    “(President Vladimir) Putin’s regime, with its threats of a nuclear attack, has turned Russia into the biggest danger to peace both in Europe and in the whole world,” it said.

     

  • Crimea bridge blast: Putin accuses Ukraine of ‘terrorism’

    Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has described the attack on the bridge leading to Crimea, which Russia has annexed act as an “act of terrorism”.

    President Putin said Ukraine’s intelligence forces had aimed to destroy a critically important piece of Russia’s civil infrastructure.

    He was speaking at a meeting with the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin.

    Officials say three people were killed in the blast on the bridge.

    The victims were in a nearby car when a lorry blew up, Russian officials say.

    “There is no doubt, this is an act of terrorism aimed at destroying Russia’s critical civilian infrastructure,” Mr Putin said.

    “Its authors, perpetrators, and beneficiaries are the security services of Ukraine.”

    Mr Bastrykin said that citizens of Russia and some foreign states had aided preparations for the attack.

    Crimea map

    According to Mr Bastrykin, investigators have established that the truck which they say blew up travelled through Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, North Ossetia and Krasnodar Territory.

    He has ordered an investigation into the incident which brought down sections of the roadway.

    Ukrainian officials have not indicated that their forces were behind the attack.

    But an adviser to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mykhailo Podolyak, denied Mr Putin’s accusation.

    He wrote that there is “only one terrorist state here” and that the “whole world knows who it is”.

    “Does Putin accuse Ukraine of terrorism? It looks too cynical even for Russia,” he said.

    On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the incident in his nightly address: “Today was not a bad day and mostly sunny on our state’s territory.”

    “Unfortunately, it was cloudy in Crimea. Although it was also warm,” he added.

    Crimea bridge before and after the explosion

    Russian authorities partially re-opened the roadway part of the bridge hours after the attack but for light traffic only.

    The railway part of the bridge – where oil tankers caught fire – has also reopened.

    The 19km (12-mile) bridge, the longest in Europe, is an important supply route for Russian forces fighting in Ukraine.

    Russia has used the bridge to move military equipment, ammunition, and personnel from Russia to battlefields in southern Ukraine.

    It was opened by Mr Putin in 2018, four years after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

    Security camera footage released on social media showed a truck – allegedly from the Russian city of Krasnodar, an hour’s drive from the crossing – moving west across the bridge at the time of the explosion.

    The footage shows a huge fireball erupting just behind – and to one side – of the truck as it begins to climb an elevated section of the bridge.

    The speed with which the truck bomb theory started to spread in Russian circles was suspicious. It suggested the Kremlin preferred an act of terrorism to a more alarming possibility: that this was an audacious act of sabotage carried out by Ukraine.

    “I’ve seen plenty of large vehicle-borne IEDs [improvised explosive devices] in my time,” a British army explosives expert told me. “This does not look like one.”

    A more plausible explanation, he said, is a massive explosion below the bridge – probably delivered using some kind of clandestine maritime drone.

    “Bridges are generally designed to resist loads on the deck and a certain amount of side loading from the wind downwards,” he said. “They are not generally engineered to resist upward loads. I think this fact was exploited in the Ukrainian attack.”

    Some observers have noted that in one of the other security camera videos, something that looks like the bow wave of a small boat appears next to one of the bridge supports, a split second before the explosion.

     

     

  • India prohibits the Islamic organisation PFI due to “terrorism” suspicions

    The Popular Front of India (PFI) was referred to as an “unlawful association” by the Indian government. At least 200 PFI members have been arrested this month.

    India on Wednesday imposed a five-year ban on the Islamic organization Popular Front of India (PFI) and eight of its affiliates. The PFI was referred to by the government as an “illegal association” and was charged with involvement in terrorism.

    In the past month, dozens of PFI offices have been raided and at least 200 PFI members were detained across India.

    PFI has rejected the accusations and said authorities are fabricating evidence and targeting the group.

    Indian government: PFI had ‘international linkages’ to terror groups

    According to the Indian government, PFI has been funding terrorist activities, providing arms training to its supporters, and radicalizing people for anti-India activities.

    “PFI and its associates operated openly as a socio-economic, educational and political organization but they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular section of the society,” read the notification issued by the government.

    The government said the group has multiple “international linkages” with “global terrorist groups.” Members of the PFI have been accused of joining the Islamic State and participating in “terror activites” in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

    The government notification also banned eight PFI-affiliated groups: Campus Front of India, Rehab India Foundation, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organization, National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.

    The bans were invoked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which gives extraordinary powers to the government to deal with activities that attack the integrity and sovereignty of India. Under this law, UAPA undertrials can be designated as terrorists.

    PFI called the ban an act of political vendetta

    Mohammed Tahir, a counsel for the PFI said the government has failed to present any evidence of the group has received international funding for terror activities in India.

    The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), a group that works with PFI on certain issues but has not been included in the ban, accused the Indian government of “misusing the investigation agencies,” using “laws to silence the opposition and to scare the people from expressing the voice of dissent.”

    The PFI came into existence in 2006 with the objective of countering Hindu nationalist groups.

    In the last few years, the PFI has backed protests against the citizenship amendment law which many Muslims in India deemed discriminatory, and supported the rights of Muslim women students to wear the hijab in their classrooms.

    Women students in India are seen protesting for their right to wear the hijab in the classroom.PFI supported the rights of Muslim women students to wear the hijab in their classrooms.

    Previously, the group has also been accused of killing people associated with other religious organizations, supporting the Islamic State group and destruction of property.

    Implications of the ban

    Of India’s nearly 1.4 billion people, about 14% are Muslims.

    In the last few years, many Muslims in India have complained of being marginalized and attacked for their identity under the rule of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

    The ban is likely to stir an outcry among opponents of the government, which retains broad public support and enjoys a comfortable majority in parliament.

     

     

     

  • Threat of terrorism in Ghana: Kumasi arrests 21 suspicious foreign nationals

    In the Ashanti Region’s Ejisu, a suburb of Kumasi, the Ghana Police Service has arrested 21 foreign nationals as part of its ‘See Something, Say Something’ anti-terrorism programme.

    According to graphic.com.gh, the 21 suspects were arrested after they were reported by community leaders for exhibiting abnormal behaviors.

    The report indicated that the community leaders in Ejisu reported the suspects to the police after they observed their suspicious activities for about a month.

    One of the community leaders, Mohammed Ali, said that they reported the 21 foreign nationals because they were of the conviction that they were a security threat because of their actions.

    “For several times, I entered and asked them, what are they doing? They said that they were learning. In the evening, you see them making phone calls, different phone calls, everybody making a phone call.

    “Maybe they are trying to convince someone or I don’t know, so that is what they have been doing around here,” Ali is quoted to have said by graphic.com.gh.

    Neither the Ghana Police Service nor the National Security has commented on the arrest yet.

    The National Security Ministry, in May 2022, launched a Citizen Education Campaign, dubbed ‘See Something, Say Something, to help raise awareness and alertness on a possible terrorist attack in Ghana.

    The campaign seeks to educate the citizenry to report any suspicious activities related to terrorism to the security agencies and it forms part of efforts to help deal with the terrorist threat in the West African sub-region.

  • Terrorists attacks in Sahel, West Africa: 538 die, 127 injured in 159 assaults …in one month by extremists

    A total of 159 terrorists and extremists attacks occurred in the Sahel and West Africa Sub-region, the Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has revealed.

    He said the attacks resulted in 538 fata  lities and 127 injuries, and displacing many of the victims of the attacks that occurred this year, between July 1 and August 28.

    Mr Kan-Dapaah disclosed this when he opened a two-day workshop titled “The Role of Civil Society Organisations in Ghana’s Border Security Management”.

    It was organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative, a local chapter of Transparency International, in collaboration with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) to partner CSOs under the Strengthening Border Security in Ghana Project (SBS Ghana).

    The SBS Ghana is funded by the European Union Trust Fund For Africa and implemented by the Ghana Immigration Service and ICMPD.

    The project seeks to, among others, work closely with CSOs, universities, research and think tanks to submit research and action projects highlighting innovative approaches and best practices on mobility and border management.

    Opening the workshop, Mr Kan-Dapaah expressed concern about the growing threat of terrorism and extremism in the Sahel and West African Region.

    He said the Sahel and the West African Region was going through difficult times.

    Mr Kan-Dapaah observed that countries such Togo and Benin, which one thought would not be attacked, were currently being attacked.

    The National Security Minister indicated that insurgent had taken control of six of the thirteen regions of Burkina Faso.

    He said Burkina Faso was located in a strategic position of the Sub-region.

    Mr Kan-Dapaah said Ghana was not immune to attacks by terrorists and extremists and called on all stakeholders to forestall any attack on the country.

    “The security agencies and stakeholders are not sleeping and are working closely to respond to the growing threat of terrorism and extremism in the Sub-region,” he said.

    Mr Kan-Dapaah called for closer collaboration between security and state agencies and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on effective border management to promote security and peace in the Sub-region.

    He said CSOs had data, skills and knowledge which could be tapped as part of efforts to ensure border security and peace in the Sub-region.

    “This is the time when active collaboration with CSOs is critical if we want to secure the security of the country,” he said.

    He appealed to the media to be circumspect in reporting on security issues to sustain the peace and security of the country.

    The Head of the European Union Delegation in Ghana, IrchardRazaaly, in his remarks, said the security of the Sahel and West African Sub-region was coming under threat through activities of extremists and terrorists.

    He said promoting security in the border regions could not be the responsibility of government alone.

    Mr Razaaly said the SBS Ghana could help curb the threat of violent extremism in the Sub-region.

    “This project will help give a new vision of what borders should look like,” Mr Razaaly said.

    The Executive Director of GII, Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo, said the emergence of terrorism and extremism was posing a threat to the Sub-region.

    She said the porous land borders made border communities vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

    Mrs Ofori-Kwafo said the SSB Ghana was seeking the support and collaboration in ensuring effective border security, and the two-day programme gave the beneficiary CSOs the opportunity to receive a grant of 700,000 euros to showcase their projects.

    She called for the active involvement of CSOs in border security issues.

    Source: The Ghanaian Times

  • European Union launches programme to fight terrorism in Ghana

    To prevent and combat violent extremism, terrorism, and organised crime in Ghana, the European Union (EU) has launched the third phase of a security programme dubbed: “Preventing Electoral Violence and Providing Security to the Northern Border Regions of Ghana (NORPREVSEC)”.

    The project seeks to strengthen security and resilience in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, and the North East regions.

    Over the next 27 months, the project will focus on reducing the risk of political violence, building the capacity of police officers in intelligence gathering, peace building, and taking steps to prevent radicalization and violent extremism.

    This would be established in three areas of action: decreasing the likelihood of political violence, promoting peace and early warning systems, and bolstering the Ghana Police Service’s intelligence, counterterrorism, and violent extremism prevention capabilities.

    The EU Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Irchad Razaaly who spoke during the launch in Tamale, said empowering civil society and local NGOs through their involvement in NORPREVSEC would help tackle violent extremism and radicalization, especially among the youth.

    Despite the fact that no terrorist attacks had been reported in the country, recent changes in regional and global dynamics have exposed it to new security risks.

    This has necessitated the programme, under which national and international experts would cooperate to minimize the terrorist threats in the five regions of the north, build resilience and secure peace, he said.

    The launch was attended by the relevant security agencies, representatives of civil society organisations, local government authorities, community stakeholders, and international actors such as Interpol, Europol, and Frontex.

    It will be funded by the EU and implemented in parallel by three actors to combat terrorism from every conceivable angle.

    These actors include the National Commission for Civic Education, leading the process of public awareness, COGINTA, a Swiss non-governmental organisation supporting government and non-governmental actors to resolve conflicts and reduce violence, and the Foundation for Public Policies and Administration, a Spanish cooperation entity.

    Also speaking at the Launch, Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Jose Javier Gutierrez also stated that “NORPREVSEC will contribute to peace and stability in the northern regions of Ghana and prevent violent extremism and terrorism.”

    “This a threat of growing concern, particularly because of the spill-over from the Sahel. Spain is committed to fighting against this scourge in Ghana, in the region and globally.”

    The Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu lauded the programme, saying it had come at the right time when national efforts at maintaining security needed to be strengthened.

    The Ministry for National Security

    launched a citizens’ awareness campaign “See something, say something” aimed at protecting the country against terrorist attacks on May 25 2022.

    The campaign is part of efforts to help deal with the terrorist threat in the West African sub-region.

    This means any person who notices anything unusual about the security situation should inform the various agencies by dialling 999 or using any of the security agencies’ phone numbers or social media handles.

    Security agencies have announced that those who do not want to be identified for fear of being labelled as snitches can file complaints anonymously.

    You can also report to assembly members, District Chief Executives, chiefs, opinion leaders, presiding members, and community leaders.

    Source:The Independent Ghana |

  • Ghana Navy holds maritime counter-terrorism simulation exercise

    The Ghana Navy has embarked on a maritime counter-terrorism simulation exercise at Nungua in Accra.

    The exercise dubbed “Exercise Sea Hawk” was in line with the navy’s operational readiness to protect and prevent terror attacks within the country’s maritime domain.

    The exercise also sought to test and enhance the operational readiness of officers of the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) Unit of the Ghana Navy to conduct maritime interdiction operations to secure the country’s maritime space.

    The exercise featured personnel from the unit who staged an interception scene on a cargo container purported to be smuggling arms and ammunition within Ghanaian waters.

    The team also demonstrated how to foil the trans-shipment of the arms and ammunition by feeder vessels that could be used by armed gangs in such operations.

    The event was observed by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice-Admiral Seth Amoama; the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, and other high-ranking officials from the Eastern Naval Command and the Ghana Air Force.

    Security consciousness

    Addressing journalists after the exercise, the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, emphasised calls for the public to be security conscious and volunteer information to the security forces in the face of the difficulties associated with terror attacks facing the West African region.

    He said the prevention of terror attacks on the country by the security agencies would be hugely influenced by the availability of information from the public.

    Mr Nitiwul pointed out that while the leaders of West Africa were determined to rid the region of difficulties it continued to face as a result of insurgencies, the menace could only be curbed if citizens became willing partners in the scheme.

    “Please join government to fight the menace since you can never know who a terrorist is if you fail to report suspicious activities within your communities,” Mr Nitiwul appealed.

    Retool

    Ghana, Mr Nitiwul indicated, was an import-dependent nation, and that it would be important to safeguard the security of the country.

    He commended the three arms of the Ghana Armed Forces for initiating the exercises at all levels to enhance the country’s security, and gave an assurance that the government would ensure that the forces were adequately resourced to ensure that Ghana remained a peaceful nation within the sub-region.

    The Defence Minister also warned members of the public to be cautious of threats to avoid rushing to take photographs of suspected explosions just to share on social media.

    “When there is an explosion like what we just witnessed with the simulation exercise, the best thing to do is to move away from the scene as the first option so you do not endanger your life.

    “The death toll we saw in the mining town of Appiatse when a vehicle carrying explosives caught fire was as a result of people rushing to take photos and videos.

    “If we are all aware of the dangers of any form of explosions and take the precautionary measures, we can protect precious lives,” Mr Nitiwul said.

     

     

  • Need to tackle terrorism threat, cybercrime confronting police

    Commissioner of Police (COP) Francis Ebenezer Doku, Director General of National Protection Department, has reiterated the need to tackle terrorism threat, cyber crime and new policing challenges confronting the Ghana Police Service.

    He stated that “these translate into increased demand on personnel of the Ghana Police Service to deliver services that are more diverse, complex, skilled and specialised in order to deal with current crime trends”.

    DCOP Doku made the call at the passing out parade of police recruits at the Police Public Safety Training School (PPSTS), in Pwalugu in the Upper East Region, at the weekend.

    He said the police in Ghana were duty bound to prepare themselves adequately as the country risked being attacked by the terrorists, who had killed tens of thousands in neighbouring countries.

    According to COP Doku“the police and other security agencies in the country would never play down the likelihood of the spillover of the Islamist-linked attacks in the country.”

    He said terrorism had become a global threat, and security agencies should be put on high alert to avert any attacks by the deadly armed groups and militants.

    COP Doku said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, had introduced a paradigm shift in recruit training modules and reforms in policing to assist the police to combat crime.

    He mentioned the modules, which had been incorporated into the recruit training as weapon handling and high risk operation, jumping from moving vehicles, firing from moving vehicles to suppress target or take over, tactical progressing, arrest and search procedures and intelligence gathering.

    COP Doku said “these are to equip the trainees with the requisite skills to be able to respond to emergency cases and any eventuality.”

    He reminded the police that they had a core mandate to serve Ghanaians, and urged the recruits to uphold professional standards so as to win the trust and confidence of the citizenry.

    COP Doku warned that any police personnel caught indulging in bribery, corruption and robbery would face outright dismissal to serve as deterrent to others.

    A total of 725 recruits, comprising 397 males and 328 females, passed out after six months training at PPSTS.

    Sergeant Naomi Bless Mensah emerged as the overall best Under Cadet Officer, the overall best recruit went to General Recruit (G/R) Eunice Agyapong, with the PPSTS being crowned the best performing school in the National Recruits Standardised Examination.

    Ernest Owusu Oseiwas best in Musketry, Kingsley Gyau, best in Physical Training,  Leticia Tetteh, best in Drill, and Abene Frimpomaa Agrippa, best in Conduct.

     Source: Ghanaian Times

  • US drone strike in Afghanistan kills Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri – Biden reveals

    US President Joe Biden has revealed that Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed by a US airstrike in Afghanistan.

    In a national address from the balcony of the White House Blue Room, Mr. Biden indicated that “justice has been delivered.” His remarks come after authorizing the strike that killed the man, one of the masterminds of the 9/11 terror attacks.

    “This terrorist leader is no more,” Mr. Biden added, before expressing his hope the killing brings “one more measure of closure” to families of the nearly 3,000 people who died in the attacks on 11 September 2001.

    The president added that Afghanistan will “never again become a terrorist safe haven” after the strike was carried out nearly a year after US troops withdrew from the country.

    On Sunday morning the Egyptian terror leader was standing on the balcony of a safehouse in downtown Kabul when he was killed by two hellfire missiles fired from a drone.

    Mr. Biden however reported that none of the 71-year-old’s family members were injured and no civilian casualties were recorded.

    The US president said: “The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm.

    “We make it clear again tonight that no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and take you out.”

    As parts of efforts to apprehend Ayman al-Zawahiri ,the FBI had been offering $25m (£20m) for “information leading to the apprehension or conviction” of the terror leader, whose death comes as a big blow to al Qaeda since the death of their founder Osama bin Laden  who was killed by special forces of the US in 2011.

    According to a senior US administration official, the plan to kill al-Zawahiri was months in the making.

    On July 1 of this year, Mr. Biden received his initial briefing regarding a planned operation to take out  the al Qaeda leader.

    But it was much earlier in the year when intelligence suggested that his wife and children had relocated to Kabul. He and his family were believed until that point to have been in hiding in Pakistan.

    The family was discovered in a safehouse where, according to the US official, al-Zawahiri was eventually discovered as well.

    His pattern of life was recorded after several months of being watched. He never left the house but did spend time on a balcony where he was eventually killed.

    On 25 July, a detailed proposal had been presented to Mr. Biden who, the administration official said, requested “granular level interest” because of the focus on taking “every step… to minimize civilian casualties”.

    Intelligence allowed the Americans to study the construction of the house to ensure that civilian casualties were avoided.

    The official added that al-Zawahiri’s death is “a significant blow to al Qaeda and will degrade their ability to operate”.

    Richard Moore, head of the UK’s intelligence service MI6, said his thoughts were with the families of those killed by al-Zawahiri’s atrocities.

    Mr. Moore tweeted: “Tough job professionally done by our US allies. The culmination of a long, shared effort since 9/11 to eliminate the threat posed by Zawahiri – a man responsible, with his toxic creed, for the death of so many these past three decades.”

    Saudi Arabia also welcomed Mr. Biden’s announcement.

    “Zawahiri is considered one of the leaders of terrorism that led the planning and execution of heinous terrorist operations in the United States and Saudi Arabia,” the state media reported, quoting a foreign ministry statement.

    Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that a strike took place and strongly condemned it, calling it a violation of “international principles”.

    Speaking on 31 August 2021, after the last US troops left Afghanistan, Mr. Biden said the US would not let up on its fight against terrorism in that country or elsewhere.

    “We will maintain the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries,” he said.

    “We just don’t need to fight a ground war to do it.”

    Previewing the strike that would occur 11 months later, Mr. Biden said at the time: “We have what’s called over-the-horizon capabilities, which means we can strike terrorists and targets without American boots on the ground – or very few if needed.”

    Andrew Ansbro, president of the FDNY-Uniformed Firefighters Association and a 9/11 survivor, said in a statement after the drone strike: “While nearly 21 years have passed since the tragedies of that dark day, the very mention of these attacks still brings sorrow to so many, including the families of 343 New York City firefighters who were taken that day, and the families of the 290 New York City firefighters that have passed since from 9/11-related illnesses.

    “This action by the United States is a reminder to each and every terrorist involved in the plotting of these attacks that the American people will never forget.”

    He added: “Thank you President Joe Biden for putting these words into action, and helping to bring another level of closure to all impacted by these attacks.”

  • Religious leaders urged to improve security at places of worship over threat of terrorist attacks

    The Ministry of National Security has urged leaders of religious institutions in the country to enhance security in their various places of worship.

    In a press statement dated May 12, the Ministry said its attention has been drawn to the growing threat of terrorism and drive of terrorist groups towards West African states.

    The terrorist groups have been targeting public gatherings in the sub-region, therefore the need to beef up security at places of worship, the Ministry added.

    The various religious institutions are being encouraged to “install CCTV cameras at designated places of worship, and engage the services of approved security guards, among others.”

    Meanwhile, as part of its mandate to safeguard peace and security, the National Security is working with the “relevant State Security and Intelligence Agencies” to put in place measures to prevent terrorist attacks in the country.

    On Wednesday, May 11, eight soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in an attack in northern Togo.

    According to reports, the attack by heavily armed gunmen took place before dawn at an army post in the Kpendjal prefecture near the border with Burkina Faso, the government said in a statement sourced by Reuters.

    It is said that this marks potentially the first deadly raid on its territory by Islamist militants, Africanews reports.

    In Nigeria, citizens have been at the mercy of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram.

    According to media reports, Boko Haram has raided villages and killed over 50 people and left dozens wounded.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Public advised to volunteer information on terrorists activities in border communities

    Mr Edward Owusu Ansah, the Sector Commander of the Immigration Service at the Hamile border has appealed to the public to volunteer information on any form of suspected terrorists’ activities in the area for action.

    He said terrorism was rife in the neighbouring countries, which had the tendency to spread to Ghana if proper care was not taken to avert their entry.

    Mr. Ansah told the GNA in an interview at Hamile at the weekend that though security at the border was tight, it was important for the indigenes to volunteer information on suspicious characters in their midst for the border patrol teams to take action.

    “Terrorism is real and they are operating in our neighbouring countries. If we are not extra vigilant, we might one day be taken by surprise and that is why the public, especially those in border communities to volunteer information on suspicious characters among them,” he said.

    He assured the public not to be afraid of reporting to the security since their identity would be protected saying, “We have been properly trained as security personnel and no one’s identity will be revealed if he or she volunteer for information”.

    On the coup d’état in Burkina Faso, Mr Ansah said the situation was not affecting businesses in the border and gave the assurance that the security was on high alert for any eventuality.

    He said at the moment, there was no influx of Burkinabe nationals to Ghana and expressed hope that calm would continue to prevail in the area.

    Source: GNA

  • National Security arrests Islamic cleric, students with terrorist links – Report

    National Security operatives late last week raided a community in the Savelugu Municipality and arrested over 30 persons who were believed to have links with terrorist groups across the region.

    A Joy News report said the raid took place in Nambahala near Biare last Friday and was specifically targeted at an Islamic School from where 33 persons were picked up and flown to Accra for questioning.

    The report added that as of yesterday (September 8), 27 of the arrested party had been granted bail whiles the others, including a top Islamic cleric and founder of the raided Islamic center, remain in custody in Accra.

    The detained party are said to be in possession of some evidential material that links them to terrorist groups in Burkina Faso and Mali.

    Meanwhile, residents in the community according to a Joy News reporter are terrified at the development given that the cleric has lived with them for some two decades.

    Commenting on the development, Alhaji Musa Barry, General Secretary of Fulani Welfare Group confirmed having gotten a hint of the raid and subsequently receiving confirmation via a call from a National Security official who invited him to a meeting on Saturday around 10 am.

    “I was only there to interpret their language, they are all Fulani, but they are not herdsmen, they are all students of that cleric. So they were investigating about their mobiles, the communication and other things which help the National Security to interpret,” he said on the September 9 edition of Joy FM’s News Nite programme.

    In mid-June this year, Police in the Northern and Upper East regions were put on high alert following intelligence gathered about a possible terror attack.

    According to the intelligence, some bandits from Burkina Faso known for their operations on Ghana, Burkina Faso border are planning to launch attacks in the coming days.

    A police wireless message quoted by 3news.com read as follows: “Bandits suspected to be in possession of military-grade weapons may have already infiltrated Ghana at yet-to-be-identified locations in the northern regions and they are poised to launch the attacks any moment from now.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Terrorism: Recruitment of Ghanaians worrying Government

    The government has expressed worry over the recruitment of at least one Ghanaian by a terrorist organisation to participate in their activities.

    Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Sunday, 18 July 2021, Information Minister Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah urged the public to be on high alert and report suspected acts of terrorism to the security agencies.

    He stated that “There is now also evidence that Ghanaians or at least one Ghanaian is confirmed to have been recruited by some of these terrorist groups to participate in their activities. If you follow the history of terrorism around the world, once they recruit people from your country and use them there and people come back into the jurisdiction, you begin to have challenges of cells growing up in your country so some of these latest developments of Ghanaians being involved now creates severe worry for us.”

    Mr Nkrumah noted that although cabinet has been briefed on the preparedness of security agencies to counter activities of terrorism organisations there is still the need for the public to aid in intelligence gathering.

    “Cabinet has been briefed on the growing worry and nature of these threats and the preparedness of the state security agencies to counter them but we believe it is important to let the public know that these are some of the challenges and the public has a role to play also in alerting security agencies and being aware so that intelligence gathering is made easier for any necessary responses,” he said.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Ethiopia warns of possible terror attack in Addis

    Ethiopian authorities on Thursday warned of a possible “terror attack” in the capital Addis Abba.

    The warning came as nearly 110 million citizens across the country began celebrations on the eve of Ethiopia’s New Year.

    Addis Ababa Police Commission said security agents have found pre-incident indicators of a terror attack targeting New Year celebrations in the city.

    The officials, however, did not give details on the alleged attackers or targetted areas.

    The authorities have temporarily banned fireworks during the festivities for security reasons.

    “Everyone in Addis Ababa is prohibited from displaying fireworks during the New Year’s celebrations to prevent crime,” police said.

    Police also warned that violators of the ban would be arrested.

    At the same time, Addis Ababa police said they have seized illegal weapons during a search operation in the capital.

    Police said 180 suspects were arrested during the raid.

    Source: theeastafrican.co.ke

  • Nigerian troops kill 20 terrorists in Borno

    Nigerian Army troops on Sunday killed 20 Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province, (ISWAP) terrorists at the north west of Baga town in Borno.

    Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, the Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Enenche said the troops of 130 Battalion with the support of the Army Super Camp, Baga, recorded the success in a decisive intercept offensive operation.

    He disclosed that the terrorists, who were armed with mortars, rocket propelled grenades and small arms were heading to attack villages surrounding Baga when the troops attacked their convoy with overwhelming firepower.

    According to him, the troops captured six AK 47 Rifles, 520 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and five 36 hand grenades.

    “However, nine of our gallant soldiers were wounded in action with no loss of life.

    “The wounded were evacuated to Sector 3 hospital for treatment.

    “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, commends the gallant troops for their professionalism and directs them to remain resolute toward eradicating the criminals from the North East,” he said.

     

    Source: Pulse Nigeria  

  • 11 terrorists surrender to Nigerian troops in North East

    The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that 11 members Islamic States of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have surrendered to the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) in North East.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this while giving updates on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

    Enenche said that the troops had also continued to launch onslaught on the terrorists from both land and air fronts leading to the killing of scores of the terrorists in recent time.

    He explained that the 11 ISWAP fighters surrendered to troops on May 11 in Adamawa, adding that the repentant insurgents were being profiled for further action.

    According to him, this number of surrendered BHT/ISWAP fighters is an indication of the heat of our operational activities on the terrorists due to the renewed impetus in the theatre to end the criminality.

    “There are indications that more terrorists are willing to surrender.

    “One of such moves, was the dropping off of 72 family members of BHTs/ISWAP comprising 33 women and 39 children at the entrance of Ngala town in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno on May 10 at about 8.30 pm.

    “All of them are in custody of troops for further action,” said.

    The Coordinator also disclosed that the troops of OPLD on May 8, neutralised three suicide bombers that attempted to infiltrate their defence location at Uvaha High Ground Area in Limankara, Gwoza Local Government Area.

    He added that the troops of 144 Battalion, 82 Task Force Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade and 271 Task Force Tank Battalion had also killed 18 terrorists within the past one week.

    These operations, according to him, took place at Gamboru Ngala, Firgi Mubi Kamale Road in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa as well as Ngoshe near the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

    “A total of 72 persons were also rescued from the Boko Haram Terrorists.

    “Also, on May 9, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion, at Pulka-Ngurosoye, near Bama town repelled BHT ambush and killed 20 terrorists, while on escort duty.

    “On May 13, OPLD troops killed nine terrorists in an ambush at MainokJakana axis in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno.

    “Two gun trucks mounted with anti-aircraft gun were captured.

    “In all 61 BHT/ISWAP criminals were neutralized in the Theatre, aside from those that escaped with gunshot wounds with narrow chances of survival,” he said.

    Enenche further disclosed that the troop of Army Super Camp at Mallam Fatori on May 11, killed several terrorists and destroyed their vehicles and logistics bases at Tumbun Fulani in Abadam Local Government of Borno.

    He stated that the de-radicalization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programme for ex-fighters under Operation Safe Corridor had recorded tremendous success.

    According to him, 280 clients have successfully undergone the programme and reintegrated into the society, 25 of this number were repatriated to Niger Republic.

    “Presently, 603 clients are due to pass out in June 2020.

    “Other fighters are hereby encouraged to come out of the bush/hideouts to surrender,” he added.

    Enenche said that the current surviving members of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups were currently on recruitment drive due to shortage of manpower on their part.

    He added that the military high command was calling on parents, traditional rulers, community, opinion and religious leaders to dissuade their wards and children from succumbing to inducements by the terrorists for recruitment into their fold.

    Under Operation Whirl Stroke, Enenche disclosed that the troops on May 12, killed four suspected armed herdsmen while responding to a distress call on infiltration at Agasha in Guma Local Government Area of Benue.

    He added that the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and 65 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from them.

    “The general public is hereby requested to continue to provide credible information to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, to facilitate our operations in this regard.

    “The High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria congratulates the gallant troops for successes recorded.

    “The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains decisive to end the insurgency and other security challenges in the country.

    “Furthermore, the High Command wishes to thank the general public for their support and solicits for their cooperation towards providing credible and timely information that will facilitate proactive engagements in our operations,” he said.

     

    Source: Pulse Nigeria  

  • ECOWAS leaders vow to deal with terrorism in Sub Region

    President Akufo-Addo and his colleague Heads of State in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have vowed to tackle the threat of terrorism in the sub-region.

    ECOWAS leaders made the firm resolution when they met in the Nigerian capital of Abuja for the fifty-sixth (56th) Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

    Read: 191 Personnel of Immigration and Police Service complete training in counter terrorism

    In his welcome remarks as host of the session, Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari said the latest terrorist attack in Niger that claimed over thirty-three (33) lives is enough reason for the entire ECOWAS to rise and deal with the phenomenon ones and for all.

    “Terrorism remains a major threat to the peace and progress of our region. Recurring attacks by terrorist groups reminds us of the urgency to build an enduring security partnership to confront and deal with the evil of cross-border terrorism” Buhari said.

    Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in his address to the ECOWAS Heads of State noted that the spreading attacks in the West African region is of great concern to the UN.

    “The times call for all of us to stand together and to summon the best of our values in overcoming this canker that threats the entire sub-region,” Dr Ibn Chambas said.

    Read: U/E region: Soldiers deployed to secure borders, fight terrorism threat

    Dr Ibn Chambas further indicated that as the ECOWAS leaders prepare to debate the complex issues related to the management of cross-border matters against the backdrop of the 40th anniversary of the ECOWAS protocol relating to the free movement of persons, residence and establishments, they ought to consider ways by which they can truly achieve a fully integrated ECOWAS.

    “I entreat you to be keenly aware of the remarkable strides made by ECOWAS integration programmes in favour of economic, trade, social development and community citizens. You have the opportunity to dispassionately review the past, identify the challenges and take corrective measures that deepen the integration process and bring you closer to your vision of an ECOWAS of peoples not an ECOWAS of States” Dr. Ibn CHAMBAS noted.

     

    Source: kasapafmonline.com