Earth Science News  
AFRICA NEWS
Two officers killed in attack on Nigeria defence academy
By Aminu ABUBAKAR
Kano, Nigeria (AFP) Aug 24, 2021

Gunmen attacked Nigeria's elite military academy on Tuesday, killing two officers and kidnapping another in a brazen assault on a symbol of the armed forces.

The raid on the Nigerian Defence Academy, the country's main officer training school, is a major blow for a military already struggling with a jihadist insurgency and heavily-armed criminal gangs.

"The security architecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning by unknown gunmen," said Major Bashir Muhammad Jajira, spokesman for the academy in the northwestern state of Kaduna.

"We lost two personnel and one was abducted."

An internal army message seen by AFP said a lieutenant commander and a lieutenant were killed and a major was abducted. Another officer was also wounded.

The high-security base, located just outside the state capital Kaduna, trains Nigerian officers and also cadets from other African militaries.

The academy statement said only that the attack had been carried out by "unknown gunmen".

No group claimed responsibility, but Nigeria is facing a threat from jihadists and large criminal gangs that raid villages, steal cattle and carry out mass kidnappings for ransom.

Ansaru, a splinter group of Boko Haram which is linked to al-Qaeda, is also present in the northwest, specialising in high-profile kidnappings.

However, the group has mostly been inactive since its leadership was hit hard by security forces in recent years.

- 'Bandits' threat -

The criminal gangs, also known as bandits, often attack in large numbers and arrive on motorbikes.

Typically motivated by financial gain, they have been targeting schools and colleges, kidnapping students and pupils for ransom.

The armed forces have carried out operations and air strikes on their camps, which are hidden deep in the forests that span Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger States, but violence has escalated.

In July, the air force said bandits had shot down one of its jets as it was carrying out operations in Zamfara state. The pilot ejected and escaped.

President Muhammadu Buhari, a former soldier first elected in 2015, has warned paying ransoms will provoke more kidnappings. Some local governors have tried to negotiate amnesty deals to stop the attacks, though those accords have mostly failed.

In the northeast of the country, there are signs of growing ties between the bandits and Islamic militants -- a government document this month warned bandits were getting training from jihadists.

Nigeria's 12-year-long Islamist insurgency has left over 40,000 people dead and forced around two million more from their homes in the northeast where another Boko Haram splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), is now the dominant armed group.

Boko Haram jihadist chief Abubakar Shekau was killed earlier this year during infighting with ISWAP militants in a major shift in the grinding conflict.


Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


AFRICA NEWS
Civilians among dead in DRCongo army-rebel clashes
Beni, Dr Congo (AFP) Aug 20, 2021
Clashes between units of the Democratic Republic of Congo army and jihadist rebels in the east left at least 18 dead, half of them civilians, monitors and community sources said on Friday. "At least nine civilians were killed overnight in Katanda territory," the Kivu Security Barometer reported in a tweet. "Searches are still under way," added the violence monitor, which has experts in the area. The clashes happened when Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) guerrillas swooped on the village of Ka ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

AFRICA NEWS
How satellite maps help prevent another 'great grain robbery'

Some plant-based burgers smell more like real beef than others, study shows

First 3D-bioprinted structured Wagyu beef-like meat unveiled

New imaging, machine-learning methods speed effort to reduce crops' need for water

AFRICA NEWS
Libya starts restoring mains water cut by sabotage threat

New clean energy tech extracts twice the power from ocean waves

Robotic floats provide new look at ocean health and global carbon cycle

Colorado basin drought sparks water limits at huge US reservoir

AFRICA NEWS
Drought makes its home on the range

UN hot on the trail of temperature records

Three in four say climate 'tipping points' close

Global warming begets more warming, new paleoclimate study finds

AFRICA NEWS
Common solar tech can power smart devices indoors, NIST study finds

Perovskite solar cells: Interfacial loss mechanisms revealed

NASA spacewalk briefing to highlight new solar array installation

The dream artificial photosynthesis technology ventures from the laboratory

AFRICA NEWS
Maersk orders eight carbon-neutral container ships

Faster and cheaper ethanol-to-jet-fuel on the horizon

Turning hazelnut shells into potential renewable energy source

NASA awards $750,000 in competition to convert carbon dioxide into sugar

AFRICA NEWS
Haitian women, left homeless by quake living in constant fear

Poland to build Belarus border fence against migrants

Morocco navy rescues more than 400 Europe-bound migrants

10 days later, Haiti earthquake victims struggle to cope

AFRICA NEWS
Green hydrogen: Focus on the catalyst surface

Survey forecasts increasing CO2 emissions from oil refineries

Study suggests hydraulic fracturing can impact surface water quality

UT researchers pushing innovative solution at DOE's Hydrogen Earth Shot kickoff

AFRICA NEWS
Renewed recovery optimism provides further boost to stocks, crude

Asian markets mixed after strong start to week

Asian markets hit as Delta, Fed, China jolt recovery rally

Asian markets drop on Fed taper talk, Delta fears









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.