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HURIWA Laments As ECOWAS Revelations On Boko Haram Indicts Nigerian Govt

Published

4 years ago

December 7, 2021

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has lamented the President Muhammadu Buhari government’s lack of efforts to evolve the needed intelligence gathering infrastructure to track the movements of cash by terrorists and their masterminds in Nigeria.

HURIWA said this while reacting to a recent statement by ECOWAS group, the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, (GIABA) which stated that terrorist groups operating in the North East, Boko Haram and ISWAP have continued to mobilise, move and utilise funds through the nation’s formal financial and commercial system.

HURIWA said that the Buhari government has failed to play effective oversight roles on the regulator of Nigerian banking system including financial institutions such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

The right group pointed out that government officials were more interested in trading in the BDCS in foreign currency sourced cheaply from the apex bank.

GIABA in its revelation said that Boko Haram splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province, moved about N18bn ($36m) generated from trading and taxing communities in the Lake Chad region through the Nigerian financial system annually.

HURIWA sees this as a historic indictment of the current administration, adding that the Buhari government is not committed towards waging determined counter terrorism war.

HURIWA said that it was shameful that Buhari, who head the ECOWAS body is lacking in adequate insight into the activities of these dreaded terrorists groups in terms of their international links and financial activities.

The human rights organisation said it was scandalous indictments on the part of the Buhari and his government and to say that since the year 2015 when this administration assumed power, the Defence and related services have been highly budgeted for.

HURIWA said that the recent report shows that perhaps government was busy frittering away the resources on frivolities instead of developing the necessary infrastructures to efficiently hunt down the sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria.

The human rights advocacy group said this In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Director of Media, Miss Zainab Yusuf.

HURIWA noted that while the United Arab Emirates is successfully prosecuting funders of terrorists in Nigeria, the apex bank is more interested in going after financial assets of organisers of the #EndSAR protest.

The group said that it seems as if Buhari is more interested in granting amnesty to those his government described as repentant Boko Haram terrorists.

The rights group, therefore, urged the Federal Government to stop playing ethno-religious politics with the fight against terrorists.

Headline

Netanyahu Asks Israeli President For Pardon From Corruption Charges

Published

22 hours ago

November 30, 2025

Editor

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has asked the country’s president for a pardon in his long-running corruption case, saying the criminal proceedings are hindering his ability to govern and that ending the trial would benefit the nation.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has denied the bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges.

His lawyers told the president’s office that he still believes the legal process will eventually lead to a complete acquittal.

“My lawyers sent a request for pardon to the president of the country today. I expect that anyone who wishes for the good of the country support this step,” Netanyahu said in a brief video statement released by his Likud party.

The prime minister, who has been on trial for five years, has not admitted guilt, and neither have his lawyers. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu should not receive a pardon unless he admits wrongdoing, expresses remorse and immediately withdraws from political life.

Pardons in Israel are usually granted only after a conviction, but Netanyahu’s lawyers argued the president can step in when public interest is at stake, saying intervention could help heal national divisions and promote unity.

President Isaac Herzog’s office described the request as “extraordinary” with “significant implications”. His office said the president “will responsibly and sincerely consider the request” after receiving the necessary opinions.

United States President, Donald Trump, recently wrote to Herzog urging him to consider approving the pardon, describing the case against Netanyahu as “a political, unjustified prosecution”.

Herzog’s office said the request will be sent to the justice ministry’s pardons department to gather assessments that will be forwarded to the president’s legal adviser, who will prepare a recommendation.

(Reuters)

Headline

US: Four Killed, 10 Others Wounded In California Shooting

Published

1 day ago

November 30, 2025

Editor

Four people were confirmed dead and 10 others injured after a shooting at a family gathering in California, United States on Saturday night, according to US police, who described the attack as a “targeted incident.”

The incident occurred inside a banquet hall in Stockton, northeast of San Francisco, shortly before 6:00 pm, spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, Heather Brent, told reporters during a news briefing.

Brent said the victims, ranging from “juveniles to adults,” were rushed to nearby hospitals, noting that details about the shooting remained limited.

“What we have confirmed at this time is that there was a banquet hall where a family was celebrating. We have 14 victims of this shooting. Four of those are deceased,” Brent said.

“Early indications suggest that this may be a targeted incident. Investigators are exploring all possibilities at this time.”

The sheriff’s office posted on social media that detectives were “working to determine the circumstances leading up to this tragedy.”

“We are urging anyone with information, video footage, or who may have witnessed any part of this incident to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office immediately,” the post added.

Authorities said no suspect had been identified at the time of the report.

California Governor Gavin Newsom was briefed on the development, his office said in a social media statement.

Data from the Gun Violence Archive shows there have been 504 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, including the Stockton attack.

(AFP)

Headline

FULL LIST: US To Review Green Cards From 19 ‘Countries Of Concern’ After Washington Shooting

Published

3 days ago

November 29, 2025

Editor

The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it will review the immigration status of all permanent residents, or “Green Card” holders, from Afghanistan and 18 other countries following the attack on National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.

U.S. officials identified the suspect in Wednesday’s shooting as a 29-year-old Afghan national who previously worked alongside American forces in Afghanistan.

The individual was granted asylum earlier this year, not permanent residency, according to AfghanEvac, an organisation that assists Afghans resettled in the United States after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

“I have directed a full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern,” said Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), on X.

The review follows a June executive order from President Trump classifying 19 countries as “of Identified Concern.”

The order banned entry for nearly all nationals from 12 countries, including Afghanistan. The full list of these countries is:

Afghanistan

Myanmar

Chad

Congo-Brazzaville

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Haiti

Iran

Libya

Somalia

Sudan

Yemen

A partial travel ban applies to seven additional countries, though some temporary work visas remain allowed: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.