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Former President Koroma of Sierra Leone gets asylum in Nigeria on medical treatment
Former President Koroma of Sierra Leone gets asylum in Nigeria on medical treatment
By: Bodunrin Kayode
Former President Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone arrived in Abuja on Friday for medical treatment which may ultimately culminate into an asylum.
Koroma who was fingered in a recent failed coup in Freetown was released from house arrest after a court in Freetown permitted him to travel to Nigeria to seek medical treatment for three months.
The Former President was arrested and charged with treason, with others now in custody and was equally slammed with two counts charges of harbouring suspects believed to be involved in the botched attempt to over throw President Mada Bio.
He was later granted bail on the condition that he could not leave his house except permitted by the Inspector-General of Police.
The Former President flew to Nigeria aboard a Nigerian Air Force plane and was received by the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and the President of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Omar Touray.
Koroma finally arrived Nigeria Friday with his entire family after series of meetings within the ECOWAS and Nigeria and an agreement that he will move to Abuja if all the charges against him were dropped.
Sources within the ECOWAS said the sub-regional bloc (ECOWAS) had quietly arranged an agreement for the former President to go into exile in Nigeria if the charges were dropped.
Notice of demand for the ex President by ECOWAS
Sierra Leone’s foreign minister, Tim Kabba had confirmed receipt of a letter written by the President of the ECOWAS Commission detailing arrangements to allow for the temporary relocation/exile of former President Ernest Bai Koroma who has been facing treason charges.
Kabbah said that his government did not however countenance the content of the said letter “because it is a unilateral proposition by the President of the ECOWAS Commission”.
Under the terms of the letter, Koroma was to be flown to Nigeria on 4 January with all legal and administrative procedures against him dropped, keeping his full entitlement as a former President.
Koroma a veteran insurance broker widely seen as the economic messiah of the corporate world was the first minority President of Sierra Leone who served for 11 years after winning in a landslide elections.
Koroma won 54% of the popular votes under the banner of the All Peoples Congress (APC) beating Solomon Barewa of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) to become the 4th President of the country in 2007, coming green from the corporate world.
He was succeeded by the current President Julius Maada Bio who has had several security and economic challenges since assumption of office trying to stabilize the country which is still struggling from the scars of a brutal Civil war suffered by the small west African country.
Former President Koroma of Sierra Leone gets asylum in Nigeria on medical treatment
News
Troops rescue two teenage boys escaping suspected terrorist camp in Borno
Troops rescue two teenage boys escaping suspected terrorist camp in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 25 Brigade, operating from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, have rescued two teenage boys who reportedly escaped from a suspected terrorist camp in Dusula.
A military source told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 10:00 a.m. on April 1 after the village head of Azir alerted troops to the arrival of two minors in the community under suspicious circumstances.
The source said troops immediately mobilised to the village and apprehended the boys, who were later taken to the Forward Operating Base for interrogation.
He identified the teenagers as Abuna Yammadu Kala, 15, and Abulkaka Yammadu Kala, 10.
According to preliminary interrogation, the boys reportedly disclosed that they recently escaped from a suspected terrorist camp located in Dusula.
The source said the children stated that they fled the camp due to harsh conditions and fear for their lives.
He added that the minors have been moved for profiling and further necessary action.
Troops rescue two teenage boys escaping suspected terrorist camp in Borno
News
Troops arrest three suspected terrorists in Adamawa, foil alleged attack plan on Mubi barracks
Troops arrest three suspected terrorists in Adamawa, foil alleged attack plan on Mubi barracks
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 232 Battalion (Tactical), in collaboration with professional hunters, have arrested three suspected terrorists during a cordon-and-search operation in Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
A military source told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 1:15 a.m. on April 1 in Angwan Rami general area based on credible human intelligence on terrorist activities.
The source said the troops apprehended three suspects identified as Ado John, 27; Umaru Yunusa, 22; and Alhaji Saleh Mamman Ibrahim, 44.
He added that preliminary investigation confirmed the suspects to be members of terrorist elements operating in the area.
According to him, one of the suspects, Alhaji Saleh Mamman Ibrahim, who was previously documented as a repentant terrorist, allegedly confessed to participating in the attack on Ngoshe in Borno State.
The source further disclosed that the suspect also admitted to acting as a double agent and allegedly planning an attack on Mubi barracks with the intention of carting away weapons.
He said the suspects are currently in the custody of 232 Battalion for further investigation and intelligence exploitation.
He reaffirmed the commitment of security forces to sustain ongoing operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action in the North-East.
Troops arrest three suspected terrorists in Adamawa, foil alleged attack plan on Mubi barracks
News
China, Pakistan Unveil Five-Point Initiative to Restore Peace in Gulf, Middle East
China, Pakistan Unveil Five-Point Initiative to Restore Peace in Gulf, Middle East
By: Michael Mike
China and Pakistan have jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at de-escalating tensions and restoring stability in the Gulf and broader Middle East region.
The proposal was unveiled following a high-level meeting in Beijing between Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and China’s Foreign Minister, and Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
Both sides reviewed the deteriorating security situation in the region and stressed the urgent need for coordinated international action to prevent further escalation.
At the core of the initiative are five key measures:
First, China and Pakistan called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, urging all parties to halt ongoing conflicts and prevent further escalation, while ensuring unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations.
Second, both countries advocated for the urgent commencement of peace talks, emphasizing that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable solutions. They reaffirmed the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations in the region, including Iran, and urged all sides to refrain from the use or threat of force during negotiations.
Third, the initiative stresses the protection of civilians and non-military targets, calling for strict adherence to international humanitarian law and an immediate halt to attacks on civilian populations and critical infrastructure such as energy facilities and nuclear installations.
Fourth, China and Pakistan underscored the security of vital shipping lanes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, urging all parties to ensure the safety of vessels and crews and to restore normal maritime operations as quickly as possible.
Fifth, the two nations emphasized the primacy of the United Nations Charter, calling for strengthened multilateral cooperation and support for a comprehensive peace framework rooted in international law.
The joint proposal signals a renewed diplomatic push by Beijing and Islamabad to play a more active role in stabilizing one of the world’s most volatile regions amid rising geopolitical tensions.
China, Pakistan Unveil Five-Point Initiative to Restore Peace in Gulf, Middle East
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