Children sacrificed to bring luck in Uganda elections

Six cases of the mutilation and murder of children as "good luck" sacrifices were reported during the recent Ugandan elections, a children's charity said.

"Child sacrifice cases are common during election time as some people believe blood sacrifices will bring wealth and power," said Shelin Kasozi of Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM), a charity that cares for survivors of attempted child sacrifice.

She said the cases were reported from October to February in Ssembabule, Mukono, Buikwe and Mubende districts in central Uganda. Suspects had been apprehended, but the cases had yet to go to court, she said.
President Yoweri Museveni won a Feb. 18 election, extending his 30-year rule in a vote criticised by the United States and European Union. Ugandans also voted in municipal and parliamentary elections.
Moses Binoga, coordinator of the anti-trafficking task force at the interior ministry, said children had been reported missing in the election period. But he could not confirm KCM's reports and said investigations were ongoing.
He said seven child and six adult sacrifice cases were reported in the country in 2015, compared to nine child and four adult sacrifice cases reported in 2014.
Binoga said the mutilated bodies of children and adults had been found, some with hearts or livers ripped out. In two cases reported last year the victims' heads were missing, he said.
In a 2012 case, 82-year-old Hanifa Namuyanja was sentenced to 15 years in jail for taking part in the sacrifice of her granddaughter Shamim Nalwoga.
Police found the girl's body with her tongue and eyes cut out and genitals mutilated, the court heard.

The United Nations said last year that attacks on albino people in Africa were on the rise, linked to a growing demand from political hopefuls for body parts prized in black magic in the run up to elections in several African countries.

A Muslim Witness recounts Khmer Rouge cannibalism

An ethnic Muslim former prisoner of the Khmer Rouge regime on Monday told a court that he was forced to witness the execution of a woman whose liver was then removed and cooked in front of him.

Meu Peou gave the harrowing testimony at the genocide hearing of "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, 89, and the former head of state Khieu Samphan, 84.
The trial of the top regime leaders focuses on the genocide of ethnic Vietnamese and Muslim minorities including the Cham.
Meu Peou openly wept as he described how he was just a boy when he was detained in western Pursat province accused of betraying the hardline communist cadres by stealing rice.
At the detention camp he witnessed a woman being killed, he said, giving the court graphic details of her brutal murder.
"She was asked to take off her clothes and her body was cut open. There was blood everywhere... her liver was taken out and was cooked for a meal," he recounted, through a court translator.
Up to two million Cambodians died under Khmer Rouge rule from 1975-1979, including an estimated 100,000 to 500,000 Cham Muslims and 20,000 Vietnamese.
Until this trial, the treatment of the two minority groups has rarely been discussed.
Meu Peou said he lost 17 relatives during the murderous rule of the hardline regime, including his father who starved to death after he refused to eat pork.
"I had to force myself to eat pork so I could survive," Meu Peou said, adding Muslims were often forcibly dispersed from their villages.
Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan have already been handed life sentences in a previous trial that focused on the regime's forced evacuation of Phnom Penh into rural labour camps and murders at an execution site.
Cannibalism by Khmer Rouge soldiers has previously been described by other witnesses who testified at the court, including of cadres eating the gall bladders of executed prisoners after drying them in the sun.
While cannibalism was not widespread, the regime's leadership encouraged a searing hatred among its footsoldiers of those seen to be class enemies that led at times to particularly sadistic violence.

Historians have offered different reasons for cannibalism, from the general climate of excessive regime violence, to superstitious beliefs about acquiring an enemy's power through the consumption of their organs to hunger and desperation within the Khmer Rouge's ranks.

The Khmer Rouge regime dismantled modern society in Cambodia in their quest for an agrarian Marxist utopia.

Many key leaders have died without facing justice, including "Brother Number One" Pol Pot who died in 1998.

IS executes eight Dutch jihadists in Syria

The Islamic State has executed eight Dutch members of the jihadist group, whom it accused of trying to desert, activists said Monday.

"Daesh (IS) executed eight Dutch fighters on Friday in Maadan, Raqa province, after accusing them of attempting desertion and mutiny," Abu Mohammad, a member of the citizen journalist group Raqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), said via Twitter.

RBSS has been documenting since April 2014 IS' abuses in Raqa, the group's de facto capital in northern Syria.

Tension has boiled in Raqa over the past month between 75 Dutch jihadists -- among them fighters of Moroccan origin -- and IS intelligence operatives from Iraq, RBSS said.

Three other Dutch jihadists were arrested by Iraqi IS members who accused them of wanting to flee and one of the detainees was beaten to death during the interrogation, according to RBSS.

IS leaders in Raqa sent a delegate to solve the dispute with the Dutch cell's enraged members, but they murdered the intermediary in vengeance, the citizen journalist group added.
The IS leadership in Iraq then ordered the arrest of all the members of the Dutch group, and imprisoned them in Tabaqa and Maadan in Syria.
Eight have since been executed, RBSS said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict, could not confirm the report.

However it said three European jihadists of North African origin were executed in what IS calls the Wilayet al-Furat -- an area stretching across the Syrian-Iraqi frontier.

According to the Dutch secret services, 200 people from the Netherlands including 50 women have joined IS in Syria and Iraq.

Chelsea’s aim was to get an away goal against PSG – Mikel Obi

John Mikel Obi has admitted that Chelsea were disappointed to lose against Paris Saint-Germain, but achieved their aim of scoring an away goal against the Ligue 1 champions.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened scoring at the Parc des Princes, before Mikel Obi equalized from close range. But Edinson Cavani came off the bench to make it 2-1 and hand PSG a narrow advantage.
The Nigerian midfielder conceded the free-kick, that allowed Ibrahimovic put the French club in the lead.
“I had to fall in because he [Lucas] was going deeper and deeper into our 18-yard box,” Mikel told BT Sport. “I had to – if not get the ball – foul him, which I did. And then the free kick as well just skipped off my feet and went into the back of the net.
“But we came back strong as well, but we’re very disappointed to have lost the game.
“We know they’re a very good team. Our aim was to come out here and get a goal and we’ve done that tonight. We still have the second leg to play back home, so we have to take that back home and capitalise on that and make sure we build on that.”

Nigerian judge hits out at man's 90-lawyer defence team

A Nigerian judge has criticised a lawyer facing criminal charges after he turned up to court in Lagos with a defence team of more than 90 people.

Justice Aishat Opesanwo described the approach as tantamount to "harassment and intimidation", a statement by Nigeria's anti-corruption agency says.
Prominent lawyer Rickey Tarfa is charged with the obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
He denies both sets of charges.
Mr Tarfa is accused of blocking the arrest of two suspects wanted in a corruption case by keeping them in his car for nearly six hours on 5 February when they were due to be picked up by the authorities, according to a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which brought the case.
In the second charge, he is accused of perverting the course of justice by communicating through his personal mobile phone with a judge overseeing a trial between the EFCC and two private companies which he was representing.
Mr Tarfa was granted bail at the hearing and the case has been adjourned until March.

Boko Haram raids Adamawa village, kills six, razes 20 houses

Suspected Boko Haram members have killed no fewer than six persons in Kuda village of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The violent group allegedly razed down more than 20 houses in the latest attack.
It was gathered that the extremists stormed the village at 9pm on Monday. It was learnt that they shot at fleeing villagers, thus killing five persons and injuring several others.
Confirming the incident, the head of Krichinga, Abubakar Kanuri, whose village is close to Kuda village, said the insurgents came through Malakwaya, a section of the Sambisa Forest.
He said the reports he got was that over 30 armed insurgents stormed Kuda village. The village head, however, said he had yet to learn the exact casualty figure.
“But I know that one old woman was burnt to ashes because she couldn’t flee her home when the insurgents set her house ablaze,” Kanuri said.
Kanuri said the military in company with some vigilante members and hunters drafted to fight the insurgents had pursued the insurgents into Sambisa Forest.
He said, “Today, they will invade our villages as rustlers, another day they stormed our villages in convoy of vehicles and some time they will use cattle to deceive us that they are normal herdsmen only to start killing people.”
“We need help in our area. Many are beginning to return but with current security situation, they may not return to these areas.
“These crazy boys are still hiding in caves inside Sambisa Forest,” he added.
To some experts , it seems Nigerian Government is clueless on how to go about the war against terrorism , extremist, and other various violent groups in the country.

Cameroon forces kill 162 Boko Haram extremists, retake town

Cameroon's special forces have killed 162 Boko Haram militants in Nigeria's northeastern town of Goshi, destroying bomb factories and weapons to retake the extremist stronghold, the government said.

The town is now under the control of Nigerian forces after the operation led by Cameroon special forces from Feb. 11 to Feb. 14, Cameroon's communication minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said late Monday.

Cameroon forces freed about 100 people being held by the insurgents, including Cameroonians and Nigerians, he said. Two members of Cameroon's military were killed, he said. The two, including a senior commander, were reported killed after their convoy hit a vehicle Sunday.

"The town of Goshi in Nigeria was formally identified as one of the Boko Haram posts, hosting factories for the manufacturing of bombs and mines," Bakary said. He added that the town was also used to house teenagers who are used as human bombs during suicide attacks.

Bakary said 162 Boko Haram fighters were killed, four mine factories dismantled, and special forces seized at least five readied mines, hundreds of explosive holders, suicide vests and triggers. A previously identified training center, along with two vehicles were also set on fire, he said.

The operation took place under the banner of the multinational task force, and with intelligence and operational coordination with Nigerian forces, he said.

In its six-year insurgency, Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 2.5 million in the region, according to the United Nations and Amnesty International.

Attacks across Nigeria's borders increased by the extremists last year in countries such as Cameroon who are contributing to a multinational force to combat Boko Haram.

What Jonathan told me after he conceded to Buhari – Ita-Giwa

Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Florence Ita-Giwa, has disclosed her conversation with ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan, during last year’s presidential election.
Jonathan, the candidate of the PDP was defeated by the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
Speaking with DAILY POST in Lagos on Tuesday, Ita-Giwa revealed her chat with Jonathan after he conceded defeat.
“I called former President, Jonathan and told him, ‘why not wait till the result is declared before conceding?’
“This was two minutes after he made the announcement.
“Responding, he said, ‘Aunty, I already know what the outcome would be. I have done the right thing. I am keeping to my word that no blood is worth my ambition.
“I said to him, ‘You are great indeed’. He thanked me for my call.”
“I don’t regret supporting him, but we thank God for the peace and unity of the country.”
Reacting to the spate of defections to the ruling APC by PDP members, the politician said she will not leave the PDP.
“You can support the President without defecting to his party. Many are doing this for what they can gain.”
“I remain in PDP but will support good policies of the present government.”
Ita-Giwa hailed the nation’s media for the resilience over the years, urging them to continue to be the voice of the people.
“You all are doing a wonderful job, let’s continue to do our best to make Nigeria great,” she added.

Russia blasts Turkey's 'provocative' shelling of Kurds in Syria

Russia said on Monday that Turkey's shelling of Kurdish and Syrian regime positions in the north of the country was a "provocative" action.
"Starting from February 13, Turkish artillery concentrated in border areas is carrying out massive strikes on Syrian towns recently freed from terrorists by regime forces and Kurdish militia," a statement by the Russian foreign ministry said.
"There have been many civilians killed and injured, infrastructure and residential houses destroyed," it said.
"Moscow expresses its most serious concern about aggressive actions by Turkish authorities against a neighbouring state," the statement said.
"We see it as overt support of international terrorism."
"Russia will support discussion of this issue in the UN Security council for a clear assessment of the provocative line pursued by Ankara, which is creating a threat to peace and security in the Middle East and beyond."

Turkey on Monday was shelling for the third day positions of Kurdish fighters, accused by Ankara of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party that has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

Moscow has been carrying out a campaign to support the Syrian army's offensive since September and also has struck a tighter alliance with the Syrian Kurds who opened an office in Moscow last week.

Ankara has vowed to keep carrying out the strikes despite criticism from Western allies in the US-led coalition, with the spiralling disagreements making the prospects of a ceasefire set to start next month increasingly unlikely.

And it seems the United States Of America have not really said anything about Turkey shelling Syria.

Young Azeez Balogun was brutally assaulted by the men of the State S.A.R.S: The Nigerian Police Force

Young Azeez Balogun was brutally assaulted by the men of the State S.A.R.S from Ejigbo police station and ikeja on friday,12th of February for being falsely accused of mobbing and stealing five hundred thousand naira from his neighbor at the block of flats in jakande estate oke afa isolo.
It all happened on the 13th of December,2015, when Azeez Balogun's neighbor,named Adeyemi Mufutau Bello parked his cars to hinder his (Azeez) family from moving their car for 8days.All efforts were made to get Mr Adeyemi to move his cars but he refused.The case was later reported to the police after 2 days.When the police men got to the site, all efforts to invite Mr Adeyemi was not fruitful as he resisted arrest.
The men of the law asked the family of Azeez to be on the look out for Mr Adeyemi,hold him down when seen and call them (the police) which they did.
The same police man named Tayo who brutally harrased Azeez Balogun in the Video came over to the site but helped Mr Adeyemi go free instead of inviting him to the station.
At about 12am, january 31st there was a knock on the door of the balogun's Family house with some men claiming to be police officers asking for the arrest of the boys in the house without any warrant but for security reasons the door was not opened to them.
Azeez was on the 12th of February,washing his brother's car when some men, Mr Tayo who Azeez Balogun claims to have seen with Mr.Bello the night before he was arrested and Mr taiwo Durojaiye(wearing the black hat in the video),dressed in the black anti robbery squad uniform walked up to him, asking him to identify himself which he did by telling them he is an upcoming artist(Stage name Dragnet). He was also asked the owner of the car.They arrested Azeez with handcuffs on his hands and legs, dragging him on the ground with no reason for the arrest and no warrant.
When they were being asked for their warrant,Mr Tayo replied by saying "Na warrant hard to issue?Can I not issue a warrant and back date it myself"
Azeez Balogun was taking to the State S.A.R.S and was detained for one night.A witness, name witheld told us that the I.P.O of the case who was Mr Taiwo Durojaiye actually said to him that it would take a miracle for Azeez Balogun to be released on that 12th of February which he Azeez was arrested and he (Mr Taiwo) made sure he did.
Azeez Balogun is a promising young boy just like every other Victims of these barbaric act.
Something needs to be done.We can't continue like this.The I.G must do something about this.We need to stand for our right.Mr Tayo and Mr Taiwo Durojaiye must be sacked and put in jail for this inhuman act.