Crime
Former president of Burkina Faso, Compaore gets life imprisonment
Former president of Burkina Faso Compaore gets life imprisonment
A military tribunal on Wednesday ruled that Burkina Faso’s former president Blaise Compaore be sentenced to life imprisonment for complicity in the 1987 murder of his predecessor Thomas Sankara in a coup.
The charismatic Marxist revolutionary Sankara was gunned down in the West African nation’s capital Ouagadougou at the age of 37, four years after he took power in a previous putsch.
Compaore was charged in absentia along with his former Head of Security, Hyacinthe Kafando, who was also sentenced to life imprisonment.
Both have previously denied any involvement in Sankara’s death along with 12 other defendants accused of involvement in the plot, three of whom were declared innocent on Wednesday.
“The court finds Blaise Compaoré and Hyacinthe Kafando guilty of attack on state security, complicity in murder and concealment of a corpse,” the tribunal said in its ruling.
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Compaore went on to rule for 27 years before being ousted in another coup in 2014 and fleeing to Ivory Coast, where he is still believed to live.
Fondly known as Africa’s “Che Guevara”, Sankara took power on a promise to thwart corruption and post-colonial influences, denouncing foreign aid as a control mechanism.
He rolled out mass vaccination against polio, banned female circumcision and polygamy, and was one of the first African leaders to publicly recognise the growing AIDS epidemic as a threat for the continent.
A former fighter pilot, Sankara won public support in the impoverished nation by selling a government fleet of Mercedes, lowering the pay of well-off public servants and forbidding first class state travel.
He cut his own salary, refused to work with air conditioning and jogged through Ouagadougou unaccompanied.
Critics said his reforms curtailed freedoms and did little to enrich ordinary people. But admiration remains.
Over the weekend, students gathered around white flowers marking the spot where Sankara was shot.
(Reuters/NAN)
Troops Arrest Suspected Security Impersonator In Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1, Sub-Sector 12, Operation Enduring Peace operating in Plateau State, have arrested a suspected security impersonator during a patrol in Jos South Local Government Area.
Security sources disclosed that the suspect was apprehended at about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday at Latya community during a routine patrol operation.
Items recovered from the suspect included a Keystone identification card bearing the ldetails “AP/No 190470 SP Aodona Lorpuu,” an NSCDC identification tag, a vehicle plate number and other personal effects.
The sources said the suspect was unable to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the recovered items during preliminary questioning.
The suspect and the recovered exhibits were subsequently handed over to Keystone B Division, Bukuru, for further investigation and necessary action.
Security agencies have continued to warn against impersonation of military and security personnel, describing the act as a threat to public safety and national security.
Troops Arrest Suspected Security Impersonator In Plateau
Troops intercept 197 Cattle After Road Blockade In Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 6 of Operation Enduring Peace have intercepted 197 cattle after suspected herders allegedly blocked a major road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources said the troops responded at about 4:45 p.m. on Sunday following reports that herders and their cattle had obstructed the Tasheek–Makera road axis.l
The sources said that upon arrival at the scene, the herders abandoned the cattle and fled into nearby areas.
Troops subsequently recovered a total of 197 cattle and moved them to a safe location pending further necessary action.
Security officials said the swift intervention prevented possible disruption of movement and tension within the community.
They added that efforts were ongoing to identify and trace the owners of the cattle, while warning against acts capable of causing public disorder or undermining peaceful coexistence in the area.
Troops intercept 197 Cattle After Road Blockade In Plateau
Troops Foil Attempted Motorcycle Snatching In Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 8, Sub-Sector 81, Operation Enduring Peace have foiled an attempted motorcycle snatching incident in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources disclosed that the incident occurred at about 10 a.m. on Sunday near Community Secondary School, Doss, when a suspected criminal allegedly attempted to snatch a motorcycle from a commercial rider identified as Rabiu Abubakar.
The sources said troops stationed at Gyambwas swiftly responded to distress information and mobilised to the scene.
On arrival, the troops discovered that the commercial rider had resisted the attacker and fled the area for safety.
However, a passenger abandoned at the scene by the fleeing rider sustained injuries during the incident.
The suspect reportedly escaped on sighting the troops before he could be apprehended.
The injured passenger was rescued by the troops and taken to a hospital for medical attention.
The troops said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest the fleeing suspect.
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