Buhari and Conspiracy Theories: Mahmud Jega is Right

I study Northern Nigeria for a living. I am a Lugardian Northerner. I grew up in and schooled in Northern Nigeria. I know that conspiracy theories have a high resonance in the region. I know that implausible and sometimes ridiculous alternative explanations and alternative facts circulate in the region to devastating effect.

Conspiracy theories led to non-Muslim fellow Nigerians being killed in Kano shortly after the beginning of the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. The ignorant interpretation of cosmic and climatic events as recompense for sin by some Muslim clerics led to Christians being attacked in Maiduguri when there was a solar eclipse--years before Boko Haram emerged.

At least 8 civilians killed in second Afghanistan blast today

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KABUL: At least eight people were killed and 18 injured Monday morning when a motorcycle bomb exploded in a crowded market in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province, local authorities said.

“Our initial information is eight people were martyred, and 18 others were wounded, all the victims are civilians,” the Badakhshan provincial governor’s spokesman Naweed Froutan told AFP, adding that the death toll is set to rise.

Latest on Anti-corruption Summit: Setback for David Cameron as British Virgin Islands rebuffs his calls to publish details of who owns offshore firms

British Virgin Islands has rebuffed calls by David Cameron for British overseas territories and crown dependencies to publish details of who owns offshore firms.

Mr Cameron’s anti-corruption summit risked ridicule this morning after it emerged that Panama, and UK overseas territories like the British Virgin Islands (BVI), which have been at the centre of tax avoidance controversies, had also not been invited.

Mr Cameron opened his Anti-Corruption summit in London with a call for the British Crown dependencies to move to a "gold standard" of publishing in full lists of beneficial ownership of companies.

British PM Cameron Withdraws ‘Fantastically Corrupt’ Statement on Nigeria

Just a day after British Prime Minister David Cameron referred to Nigeria and Afghanistan has fantastically corrupt nations, the leader of the conservatives has praised the nations for the action they have taken in combating corruption.

He made the comments during Prime Minister's Questions in response to Conservative MP Philip Davies, who asked him why aid was being given to countries he considered corrupt.

Mr Cameron said that the leaders of both Nigeria and Afghanistan were "battling hard against very corrupt systems and countries" and had made "remarkable steps forward".

OFFICIAL: WHO announces removal of Nigeria from polio-endemic list

The World Health Organization (WHO) has on Monday formally removes Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries. 

The announcement comes after the historic achievement of the country in interrupting the transmission of wild polio-virus for a period of 15 months, which exceeds WHO’s target for interruption. Only 2 countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) remain polio-endemic, down from more than 125 in 1988.

To recognize this landmark achievement, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, attended an official ceremony at the State House to formally announce to the Government of Nigeria, through President Muhammadu Buhari, WHO’s decision to remove Nigeria from the polio-endemic list.

U.N. Security Council blacklists Boko Haram leader, splinter group

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council sanctioned the leader of Nigeria's Boko Haram and a splinter group on Wednesday, the first individual and entity to be designated by the world body since the Islamist militant group was blacklisted, diplomats said.

Leader Abubakar Shekau and Boko Haram faction Ansaru will be banned from international travel and their assets frozen under the U.N. al Qaeda sanctions list.

Full Text of President Jonathan’s 2014 Democracy Day broadcast speech

Fellow Nigerians, I greet and felicitate with you all, today, as we mark 15 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in our beloved country. 

Our dear nation, Nigeria, has certainly come a long way and made notable progress since our first Democracy Day on May 29, 1999 when the military finally relinquished power and handed over to a democratically-elected government, marking the true beginning of a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” 

Although I have ordered a low-key commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day in deference to the current mood of the nation, there can be no doubt that the past 15 years, the longest period of sustained democratic governance in our country, have been a blessing to us, as a people. 

As we commemorate 15 years of our Fourth Republic today therefore, I believe that it is fitting that we pay tribute once again to all those who played a part in restoring our nation to the true path of democratic governance, built on the foundations of rule of law and freedom of expression. 

As a result of our collective efforts since 1999, democratic governance is now entrenched in our nation and institutions. I wholeheartedly believe that our people are the better for it. The scope of fundamental rights and liberties enjoyed by our people over the past 15 years has been expanded beyond measure. 

Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau is presently being kept safe in a military camp - Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky who is one of the controversial Islamic scholars and leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria popularly called Shiite Muslim group, has alleged that the leader of the Boko Haram insurgents, Abubakar Shekau was being shielded by the Nigerian military.

Speaking at the Movement’s 2014 Martyr day in Zaria on Sunday, he alleged that the Boko Haram activities were part of covert operation by the developed nations to balkanize Nigeria and plunder its resources. Claiming that he knows the hide out of the nation’s most wanted man, “Abubakar Shekau is presently being kept safe in a military camp. 

BOKO HARAM: US Muslims countered First Lady Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama took a strong stand Aginst Boko Haram without Evidence?

US Muslims countered the Fist Lady, Michelle Obama when she made a big move to support US intervention in Nigeria. {How much stronger US Muslims have become in spite of lackey groups! Remember when Hillary Clinton signalled the assault on Afghanistan on the fake claims against the Taliban? There was hardly any Muslim response. The four letter groups had Ramadan iftar with Hillary's husband! ugh!}

THE FACT AND CONSPIRACY ABOUT BOKO HARAM: Asari Dokubo and the Boko Haram guy's speeches are similar!

Even an objective non-Muslim could see from the text of the mad dog's (Shekau) message that those messages are not of Islaam. Even the dreaded so-called Al-Qaeda network do not describe Islaam in a such a manner (that Islam is about killing).  Boko Haram is child's play when compared to 911 and the creation of Al-Qaeda network (google 'truth about al-Qaeda). 

I watched The Secret of the Seven Sisters last year on al-jazeera and understood how the West can completely destabilize any country because of oil. Don't we notice that Asari Dokubo and the Boko Haram guy's speeches are similar? 

Boko Haram: Time for Muslims Leaders world wide to review their teachings

As condemnations trails the activities of the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram even from the Islamic international bodies and scholars across the globe. It seem very necessary for the Muslim society to re-exermine the teaching of Islam worldwide.

It is Time for Muslims Leaders world wide to review their teachings, they claim to teach peace but a large part of their followers do otherwise IN THE NAME OF THE RELIGION.

US Offer To Rescue The Abducted Chibok School Girls And GEJ Acceptance: Big Question We Need To Answer Before It Is Too Late By Yerwa Circle

The Abduction, US Offer To Rescue The Abducted Chibok School Girls And GEJ Acceptance, Is It A Step forward for US to Actualise Its Prediction of Nigeria's isintegration?

The big question that we need to answer before it is too late is why GEJ choose not rescue the abducted Chibok School Girls, and why only now barely a few month to presidential election that US felt obliged to offer rescue? That means US intelligence will intervene like they did in Somalia, Afghanistan and Libya and instead to rescue the abducted school girls FBI will make sure they actualise the disintegration of Nigeria. Otherwise, US if they could glean intelligence information on possible terrorist acts in Nigeria, they could have equally had the capabilities to share vital information with Nigerian government on who are the benefactors of Boko Haram.

Who is Boko Haram?

NIGERIA revels at copying.  We copy a lot and add our own dimension to things.  Sadly, one of our latest imported craze is the phenomenon known as Boko Haram.   Some of our young men have allowed themselves to be turned into terrorists and stone cold killers.  But how did we get to this sorry pass?  Why did we start keeping company with Afghanistan and other such funny places?  How did we get here, and who are these people?

Back in 2011, when it was looking like Boko Haram was going to careen out of control, former president Obasanjo stepped-in and attempted to unravel the Boko menace.

Off went OBJ to Borno State, the capital of Boko Haram.  OBJ got there on September 15, 2011 ostensibly on a condolence visit to the family of a man who was killed back in July 2009.  Obasanjo had a full and useful chat with one Baba Kura Fugu who christened himself representative of Boko Haram and spokesperson for the Fugu family.  Two days later, Mr Fugu was dead, cut down in the same manner his father, Baba Fugu Mohammed, and his brother-in-law, the founder of the original Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, were cut down.

Afghanistan President frees 65 inmates from Parwan prison over strong U.S. objections

Afghanistan released 65 accused militants from a former U.S. prison on Thursday despite protests from the American military, which says the men are Taliban fighters who will likely return to the battlefield to kill coalition and Afghan forces. 

The release had been ordered by President Hamid Karzai several weeks ago, after his government took over the prison from U.S. troops. 

The decision had prompted angry denunciations from Washington and strained relations between the two countries ahead of the year-end withdrawal of most international combat troops. U.S. forces in Afghanistan say the men have the blood of international and Afghan soldiers on their hands. 

The prisoners were freed just after 9 a.m. from the Parwan Detention Facility near Bagram Air Field, about 28 miles north of Kabul, prison chief Gen Faroq Barekzai Bagram told CBS News.

Maj. Nimatullah Khaki, a prison spokesperson, says they boarded a bus to leave the facility, laughing and smiling.

In a statement Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul called the release "deeply regrettable."

"Releasing these individuals is contrary to Afghanistan’s commitment in our 2012 Memorandum of Understanding to take all necessary steps to ensure that detainees do not pose a continuing threat to Afghanistan, the international community or the United States," the statement said.  

"The Afghan government bears responsibility for the results of its decision.  We urge it to make every effort to ensure that those released do not commit new acts of violence and terror, and to immediately bring to justice any who do so." 

The U.S. has argued for the detainees to face trial in Afghan courts - citing strong evidence against them, from DNA linking them to roadside bombs to explosive residue on their clothing - but Kabul has cited insufficient proof to hold them. 

Karzai has referred to the Parwan prison as a "Taliban-producing factory" where innocent Afghans are tortured into hating their country. 

The U.S. military late Wednesday night issued a strongly worded statement condemning the then-imminent release, which it said would include detainees directly linked to attacks that have killed or wounded 32 U.S. or coalition personnel and 23 Afghan security personnel or civilians. 

Among those who were expected to walk free Thursday morning were Mohammad Wali, who the U.S. military says is a suspected Taliban explosives expert who allegedly placed roadside bombs targeting Afghan and international forces. The military said Wali had been biometrically linked to two roadside explosions and had a latent fingerprint match on another improvised explosive device, as well as testing positive for explosives residue. 

Others in the group include Nek Mohammad - who the U.S. says was captured with extensive weapons, and a man identified as Ehsanullah, who is claimed to have been biometrically matched to a roadside bomb and who tested positive for explosives residue. 

The U.S. military had formally disputed the prisoners' release, but an Afghan review board had effectively overruled those challenges. 

The detainees' release has been in the works for weeks, and comes as Karzai's government has taken an increasingly hostile tone toward the U.S. ahead of the withdrawal of NATO combat troops at the end of 2014.

CBS