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 neutralise terrorist, destroy camps in Zamfara offensive
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army under 1 Brigade, in conjunction with Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), have neutralised a suspected terrorist and destroyed several camps during an offensive operation in Zamfara State.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 4:00 a.m. on April 27 when troops conducted a fighting patrol to Dan Gajeru and Kokomba areas in Tsafe Local Government Area.
The sources disclosed that troops made contact with terrorists during the operation, leading to an exchange of fire.
According to the sources, one terrorist was neutralised, while troops recovered two locally fabricated firearms, two motorcycles, eight mobile phones, and assorted hard drugs.
The sources added that several terrorist camps were also destroyed during the operation.
They further stated that troops have continued clearance operations in the general area to consolidate gains and prevent the re-establishment of criminal hideouts.
Troops neutralise terrorist, destroy camps in Zamfara offensive
Troops disrupt terrorist logistics supply in Niger, recover items
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army under 22 Brigade and Sector 1, Operation Safe Haven, have disrupted the activities of suspected terrorist logistics suppliers in Niger State.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 7:30 a.m. on April 26 when troops, led by the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. N.N. Rume, conducted an offensive operation at Latan Daji in Patigi Local Government Area.
The sources disclosed that troops made contact with the suspected logistics suppliers during the operation and engaged them, forcing the suspects to abandon their items and flee the area.
Items recovered include three motorcycles, a sack containing assorted soft drinks, and half bags of rice and gari.
According to the sources, the Brigade Commander also held a meeting with village heads in the area, warning them against associating with or providing logistics support to criminal elements.
The sources added that troops have since returned to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Patigi, while surveillance and patrols have been intensified in the area.
Troops disrupt terrorist logistics supply in Niger, recover items
Troops rescue kidnapped victim in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have rescued a kidnapped victim in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
Security sources said the rescue was carried out at about 11:00 p.m. on April 26 by troops deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bilawa-Jor during a fighting patrol around Naka.
The sources disclosed that the victim was found during the operation and safely extracted by the troops.
According to preliminary investigation, the victim had gone missing during an earlier attack at Mbapa community in the same local government area.
The sources added that the rescued victim has been evacuated to Naka General Hospital for medical attention.
Troops rescue kidnapped victim in Benue
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