News
CSOs, Medıa Organisations, Urge Malı Burkına Faso, And Niger Juntas To Refrain From Transforming To Civilian Rulers, Call for Dialogue Against Withdrawal from ECOWAS
CSOs, Medıa Organisations, Urge Malı Burkına Faso, And Niger Juntas To Refrain From Transforming To Civilian Rulers, Call for Dialogue Against Withdrawal from ECOWAS
By: Michael Mike
Civil Society Organisations as well as Media organisations have urged Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger military juntas to refrain from transforming to civilian rulers but instead allow for democrats back in power.
They stated this in a communique they issued at the end of CSOs, Media interactive meeting on the state of ECOWAS and regional integration in West Africa.
The communique signed by CSOs, media organisations, lamented: “The stability of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a regional bloc of economic, human and political development has been threatened in recent years by political instability and security challenges in some member states.
“Since August 2020, the region has recorded several coup d’etats where democratic governments have been toppled and constitutional procedures trampled.”
The CSOs, media organisations went further in the communique to state that to address these challenges, civil society organisations (CSOs) in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, including the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Transition Monitoring (TMG), the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Nigeria), Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGOs) and Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) organised a CSOs and Media Interactive Meeting on State of ECOWAS and Regional Integration in West Africa.
The meeting which was held in Lagos on Monday, 5th February 2024 centered on the state of affairs within ECOWAS and measures required to avoid further instability and possible disintegration of the regional bloc which before now had been regarded as the template for regional integration in Africa.
It also acknowledged the relevance of ECOWAS to the integration of the region with notable achievements among which include the free movement of persons, the trade liberalization scheme and, above all, the establishment of the Customs Union, with the entry into force of the Common External Tariff (CET) in 2015 which have contributed to furthering integration of the region.
The CSOs and media organisations group observed the following; Given the security challenges in the region, the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the ECOWAS will cause set back to the gains of peace and security efforts under the direction of regional authority especially in the fight against terrorism; the withdrawal defeats the purpose of regional economic corporation within the ECOWAS bloc including the establishment of an African Continental Free Trade Area. It will adversely affect the life and livelihood of the citizens of West Africa; it will further exacerbate corruption, illicit financial flows (IFFs) and drug and human trafficking across the borders
They also stated that democracy in West Africa has become more fragile despite the principles of zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government, tenure elongation, fraudulent elections and bad governance contained in the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, the culture of impunity and disregard for the rule of law by political elites in West Africa have continued to weaken state institutions.
They recommended at the end of the meeting the following; ECOWAS should urgently call for an emergency extra ordinary summit to look into the state of affairs in the region in order to prevent further threats of disintegration; immediate dialogue must be pursued with the affected countries and all sanctions be removed to pave the way for genuine reconciliation, asking the Authorities of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to rescind their decisions to withdraw from ECOWAS because of obvious beneficial reasons, calling on state and non-state actors in the region to intensify engagements towards ensuring a more united ECOWAS.
Other recommendations include that ECOWAS should work with the authorities in these countries to urgently adopt transition plans with a clear roadmap for a quick restoration of democratic order:
urged the military authorities in the affected countries to refrain from attempts to transform themselves from military to civil rulers; ECOWAS should work with the Authorities in these countries to ensure free, fair, and credible elections; asking CSOs and media to engage positively and ensure electoral transparency, popular participation and inclusion in the electoral process.
They also recommended that in the spirit of the ideals of ECOWAS VISION 2050, ECOWAS should speed up the review of the ECOWAS supplementary protocol on good governance to prevent tenure elongation, electoral manipulation and rigging, curb unconstitutional changes of government; with the adoption of Vision 2050, ECOWAS Parliament should begin to have elective representatives rather than appointive representation. This will contribute to making it a truly ECOWAS of the peoples; ECOWAS should operationalize the consultative aspects of the functions of the ECOWAS National Units so as to ensure connection with the citizens of Member States in the implementation of ECOWAS Agreements at the national levels, in line with the spirit of the ECOWAS Vision 2050; civil society and media should embark on peace missions to consult key stakeholders in the affected countries to provide support towards quick return to constitutional democracy; ECOWAS, civil society and media should demand for quick, transparent, inclusive, free, fair and credible election in Senegal as earlier scheduled. They should also condemn the arbitrary arrest and banning of political opposition from contesting the election; and after successful resolution with the aggrieved countries, ECOWAS should support the member countries to strengthen their capacity in responding to present and emerging threats including activation of early warning and response capabilities.
The CSOs and media organisations that signed the communique include; Kop’ep Dabugat – West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF); Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) – Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); Solomon Adoga – Transition Monitoring (TMG); Patience Ikpeh-Obaulo – West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Nigeria); Ayo Adebusoye – Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGOs); Sina Odugbemi – Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA); and Ezeobi Chiemelie – Thisday Newspaper.
CSOs, Medıa Organisations, Urge Malı Burkına Faso, And Niger Juntas To Refrain From Transforming To Civilian Rulers, Call for Dialogue Against Withdrawal from ECOWAS
News
Military Air precision bombardment neutralises over 50 terrorists after attack on Ngoshe in Borno
Military Air precision bombardment neutralises over 50 terrorists after attack on Ngoshe in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has neutralised over 50 suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists following precision air strikes on their withdrawal routes after a failed attack on Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the officer said the terrorists had, at about 7:30 p.m. on March 3, launched a coordinated assault on artillery positions in Ngoshe, a community located about 12 kilometres from Pulka and 31 kilometres from Gwoza town.
“The insurgents attempted to overrun the artillery positions in a surprise evening attack. Troops on ground responded effectively but conducted a tactical withdrawal under intense fire to preserve personnel and equipment while reinforcements were being mobilised,” he said.
The sources explained that the insurgents had adopted a hit-and-withdraw tactic, abandoning the scene before reinforcement troops fully secured the area.
The sources added that additional troops were immediately deployed, while surveillance platforms tracked the fleeing terrorists along identified withdrawal corridors.
“Upon receipt of real-time intelligence from ground troops, the surveillance aircraft were scrambled to engage the terrorists on their egress routes. The terrorists were sighted moving in clusters in both locations.
“Precision bombardment was conducted on confirmed target clusters and movement trails. Battle Damage Assessment indicates that over 50 terrorists were neutralised in two separate strike runs,” the officer said.
“The air-ground synergy under Operation Hadin Kai ensured that although the terrorists attempted to escape into forested enclaves, they were decisively engaged from the air.
“The strikes also disrupted their logistics and mobility capability within the Ngoshe–Pulka corridor,” he said.
The sources further stated that clearance and area domination operations were ongoing to forestall any regrouping attempts by the insurgents.
He noted that the Ngoshe–Gwoza axis remains a historically volatile corridor due to intermittent activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP remnants exploiting difficult terrain and proximity to cross-border forest zones.
“Operation Hadin Kai remains resolute in sustaining offensive pressure. The message is clear any attempt to attack our positions will attract overwhelming and coordinated firepower,” he said.
He assured residents of Gwoza and surrounding communities of the military’s commitment to protecting lives, supporting resettlement efforts, and consolidating gains recorded in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in Borno.
Military Air precision bombardment neutralises over 50 terrorists after attack on Ngoshe in Borno
Two arrested over alleged child trafficking in Cross River
By; Zagazola Makama
Two suspected child traffickers have been arrested by the Police in Oboho Ito community, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River, following a foiled attempt to allegedly sell a one-month-old baby.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects were apprehended on March 2 after youths of the community intercepted them based on a tip-off.
According to the source, the mother of the baby, Favour Effiong, reported that on March 1, one Happiness Etim Udoh, allegedly persuaded her to bring her one-month-old child under the pretext of taking her to receive financial assistance for the upkeep of the baby.
“On suspicion, the mother informed her landlord, and community youths laid ambush for the suspect,” the source said.
Udoh was subsequently arrested alongside an alleged accomplice, Ekpo Inyang, said to have no fixed address.
Police say preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly planned to snatch and sell the baby to a woman in Abuja.
The source further disclosed that during interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to previously selling a child for N200,000 to a buyer in Abuja.
It was also alleged that arrangements had been made to hand over the one-month-old baby to a relative of one of the suspects in Abuja, who was reportedly pretending to be pregnant.
The baby was safely recovered and handed back to the mother.
Police said investigation into the matter had commenced, while efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected trafficking network.
They reiterated commitment to tackling child trafficking and protecting vulnerable children across the state.
Two arrested over alleged child trafficking in Cross River
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI repel ISWAP attack in Damasak, three residents shot
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)/Hunters Group, successfully repelled an attack by suspected ISWAP terrorists in Damasak town, Nganzai Local Government Area.
According to sources, the assailants invaded the town around 10:30 p.m., opening sporadic gunfire that sent residents fleeing in panic.
“Three civilians, Goni Dauda, 25, of Zanna Umarti Ward; Modu Ya’asham, 32, of Gajiram Town; and Asinamai David, 25, of Bula Kara, Gubio Town, were fatally hit by stray bullets, while Kellu Bukar, 40, an IDP camp resident, sustained a chest wound and is currently receiving treatment at General Hospital Damasak.
The troops stormed the scene and engaged the terrorists in a heavy gun battle forcing them to flee with bullets wounds.
The troops later visited the scene and evacuated the victims.
The corpses of Goni Dauda and Modu Ya’asham were released to their families for burial according to Islamic rites, while Asinamai David was buried according to Christian rites.
Security forces confirmed that normalcy has returned to the town, and monitoring continues to prevent further incidents.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI repel ISWAP attack in Damasak, three residents shot
Military Air precision bombardment neutralises over 50 terrorists after attack on Ngoshe in Borno
Police foil abduction in Kano, one killed
Two arrested over alleged child trafficking in Cross River
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News11 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
