Cheat Sheet Week 31 2009

Monday 27 July 2009

Religious clashes in Bauchi: Sunday around 70 militants attacked a local police station in Bauchi in retaliation for the arrest of their leaders. Police and soldiers repelled the attack and then raided neighbourhoods to arrest those responsible.

Breaking News: At the time of compiling this brief, reports are emerging of further violence in neighbouring states. 

 Uneasy calm as amnesty date draws near: An uneasy air of calm has settled over the Niger Delta recently as all wait to see the outcome of the government’s proposed amnesty and MEND’s ceasefire. 

 Amnesty Pull-out: MEND backs governors: MEND has thrown its support behind the position of south south governors who have threatened to pull out from the amnesty program if the root-cause issues are not addressed.

Related:  Oil firms to speak on oil reforms: Foreign oil firms will get their first and, most likely, last chance this week to publicly criticize and question legislation that could make it much more expensive to operate.

Tuesday 28 July 2009

Religious clashes spread: Bauchi, Yobe, Kano and Borno States were in lockdown Tuesday morning as security forces attempt to contain two days of Islamist-linked violence in which over 100 people have been killed.

Boko Haram: the Nigerian Taliban emerged in 2004 when it set up a base — dubbed Afghanistan — in Kanamma village in Yobe, on the border with Niger.

Taliban: a timeline

Mohammed Yusuf: The leader of the group, Mohammed Yusuf, lives in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

In Brief:  The north south divide

Pfizer finally settles: US drugmaker Pfizer and Kano state have clinched a final out-of-court settlement over the 1996 drug trials that led to the deaths of 11 children, lawyers said yesterday. 

Connection cable cut – again!: Approximately 70% of the nation’s internet capacity is being disrupted following reported damage to the SAT-3 subsea cable offshore from Benin.

 
Wednesday 29 July 2009

Third day of fighting in north: Fighting continued to rage overnight around an Islamist militant stronghold in Maiduguru, Borno state after three continuous days of fighting that have left at least 250 people dead.

There where’s and when’s and how many’s

YRD is leaving on a jet plane: President YRD left for a 3 day visit to Brazil, just a as riots rage and guns still smoke in the north and as the eve of an unprecedented amnesty for militants in the south fast approaches.

Thursday 30 July 2009

Senior Islamist among dead: The deputy leader of the Muslim group Boko Haram was believed to be among dozens of people killed after troops shelled their base in the city of Maiduguri, military officials said.

1,000 extra troops to fight extremists: The government deployed 1,000 more soldiers to the northern region yesterday to reinforce troops battling the sect.

Death toll passes 300: The latest numbers put the death toll so far at over 300. 

Senators shun oil industry bill: Senators from six oil-producing states yesterday rejected a proposed oil and gas sector reform bill. The Petroleum Industry Bill is currently being debated both in parliament and at public hearings. 

Amnesty countdown begins: The amnesty is scheduled to run from August 6th until early October. 

UK Foreign Office warn of hijack threat: British Government this week updated its travel advice for Nigeria, now stating “Credible information suggests that delta militants will also now be seeking to hijack aircraft where they believe there is a significant target.” 

Nigeria: A political and social swamp.

Friday 31 July 2009

Boko Haram leader killed: Forces have shot and killed Mohammed Yusuf, leader of the Boko Haram after he allegedly tried to escape police custody after his arrest.

Who was Yusuf?: 

What to expect: Security forces are expected to enforce a state of emergency in the northern and middle belt states of the country that have experienced recent clashes.

The UK Foreign office has updated its travel advice to include the following: “We advise against all travel to Borno State in northern Nigeria and advise British nationals in the State to leave.”

Crackdown on Islamists: a timeline

Hostage Watch:

 Kidnapped: five foreign nationals on  07.07.09, off the Bakassi peninsula in south Cameroon, bordering Nigeria.

 Also held: 18 crewmembers of the MV Pusan Reafer, nationalities unknow, reported abducted 15.05.09

 Also held: 2 filipino crewmembers of the MV Spirit hijacked 13.05.09,