August 21 Iraq SITREP by Mindfriedo: American Hostage Crisis

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NB: The term Salafi may refer to a Puritan Sunni (or rarely Shia) but in these SITREPs is being referred synonymously with Wahabi Takfiris. 

The titles Farooq and Siddique were originally those of Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), but over the ages, for whatever reasons, have been associated with Omar ibn Khattab and Abu Bakr (the second and first Caliphs).
Similarly the term Salaf may have referred to a pious worshipper but, as is the norm now, the term Salafi Jihadism is associated with Wahabism. To avoid confusion, the term Salaf here does not refer to its “original” purpose/meaning.
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Russian Foreign Ministry Statement On The Start Of The Delivery Of Humanitarian Relief Aid To Southeastern Ukraine

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The endless delays hampering the initial deliveries of the Russian humanitarian relief aid to southeastern Ukraine have become intolerable.

A lorry convoy with many hundreds of tonnes of humanitarian relief aid, urgently needed by the people in these regions, has been standing idle for a week now on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Over this period, the Russian side has made unprecedented efforts in all areas and at all levels in order to complete the required formalities. We have met all conceivable and inconceivable demands of the Ukrainian side and have submitted to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) exhaustive lists of food, drinking water, medications, essential items and diesel generators due to be delivered to Lugansk, where they are urgently needed by women, children and the elderly.
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I’m not in PDP on anyone’s errand – Ribadu

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Today is a happy day for me. I am awed and inspired even further by the cheerful crowd that received me at the airport and which has come with me to this place. Whatever way I turn, I feel a sense of boundless happiness at coming home, more so now with a mission to be accomplished; a task dear to the hearts of all the people of Adamawa State. This is therefore not an ordinary day for me, and as indeed it is not for the rest of the patriotic citizens of this State – we are here on the march of history. 

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Just in: Nigerian doctors call off strike, to resume work Monday

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The Nigerian Medical Association [NMA] has suspended its 65- day old strike action. The body’s President, Kayode Obembe, told journalists the association’s delegates resolved to suspend the industrial action in the interest of the ongoing public health issues in the country (Ebola outbreak). He said all Nigerian doctors are expected to report to work on Monday. Mr. Obembe said the delegates also resolved among others that the Federal Government recall all suspended resident doctors without punitive measures. Over 16, 000 resident doctors where suspended by the Federal Ministry of Health following a presidential directive. More details later … In the meantime, you can read the 24 reasons the doctors went on strike here. -

VIDEO: Why I Set Books Ablaze As Kano Governor — Shekarau, Education Minister

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In 2007, Ibrahim Shekarau as Governor of Kano State in Northern Nigeria publicly burned Hausa romance novels and materials he described as pornography and immoral to the customs and traditions of Northern Nigeria society. He banned actors and subjected Hausa authors to what human rights campaigners described as heavy-handed censorship board. Writers in Kano State had to go to court and Mr. Shekarau was forced to settle out of court and slow down on his censorship. His local enforcers had a field day moralising for writers, authors and those they describe as ‘immoral’. Kayode Ogundamisi met Mr. Shekarau, who is now Nigeria’s Education minister, at a London event organised by UK based BEN-TV and sought clarification from him on why as governor, he had to personally enforce and lead the burning of books publicly.
Watch the video after the break.

EBOLA: FG’s ₦1.9 billion intervention fund at risk of diversion – NMA, Falana cry out

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Some concerned stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to shun the temptation of diverting the N1.9bn set aside for the containment of the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. President Goodluck Jonathan had, on August 8, 2014, approved the release of N1.9bn as the Ebola intervention fund. But two weeks after the presidential directive, the fund had yet to be released.
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Photo: 20yr-old Covenant University Student Kidnapped, Murdered in Lagos

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The Lagos State Police Command is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the kidnap and murder of a 20-year-old undergraduate, identified as John Chinedu Okere, who until his death was a 300 level Electrical Engineering student at Covenant University, Otta in Ogun State.

According to reports, Chinedu left his parent’s house in the morning of Wednesday, August 6, 2014, to a Hospital in Yaba, Lagos for medical reasons and never returned. He reportedly left home with about N6000 and that was the last time he was seen alive.
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Libya migrant boat sinks with 170 on board

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Dozens of people are thought to have drowned after a boat loaded with migrants sank off the coast of Libya. At least 170 passengers are reported to have been on board, but so far the coastguard has only rescued 17 people. Separately, unidentified planes are reported to have bombed militant positions near Tripoli airport, leaving at least 10 people dead. Libya has been in turmoil with fighting between rival militias who led the 2011 uprising against Col Muammar Gaddafi. 

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35 Police Officers Missing after Borno Insurgent Attack.

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Nigeria Force Headquarters have confirmed that following the deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters on the Mobile Police Training School, Gwoza, last week, 35 of its officers are still missing. Here is the statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Emmanuel Ojukwu:

Following the attack launched by insurgents on the Gwoza Training camp of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Suleiman Abba, NPM, NPOM, mni since ordered the tightening of security around all police facilities in the country in addition to efforts made to further protect the lives of all people in Nigeria and their properties.
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Obasanjo hails FG, Lagos on Ebola virus containment.

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has hailed the efforts by the Federal and Lagos State governments to check the spread of the Ebola virus disease in the country.

Obasanjo said if the Federal Government had given the same prompt attention to rescuing the abducted Chibok girls, the story could have been different now.
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Ferguson Protest: The looters the Media Don't Tell you About

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Brothers and sisters, I am here to tell you that I charge the white man. I charge the white man with being the greatest murderer on earth. I charge the white man with being the greatest kidnapper on earth. There is no place in this world that this man can go and say he created peace and harmony.

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Supporters Rally for Ferguson Police Officer as Donations Top $300,000

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 – Supporters of Darren Wilson, the policeman who shot and killed an unarmed African-American teen and sparked a wave of protests, rallied in St. Louis on Saturday as donations flooded in for the lawman.
“Our mission is to formally declare that we share the united belief that Officer Wilson’s actions on August 9 were warranted and justified and he has our unwavering support,” activists said in a joint statement that was read aloud in Lindenwood Park.

Scores of people waved placards as passing cars honked horns in support. Online donations via pages on the gofundme website climbed above $300,000 to cover the officer’s legal costs and possible relocation.

“Many of us have received death threats against ourselves and our families… We will not hide. We will no longer live in fear. We ask this question: Can justice ever be attained if one side’s supporters are living in fear of speaking out?”

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Ferguson Police Have “Thankless and Dangerous Job” - Activist

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The policeman who shot and killed an unarmed African-American teen in Ferguson, Missouri, was doing a “thankless job” and faced violence daily, activist Kelly Arnold told RIA Novosti during a Saturday rally in support of police in St Louis.

“I’m here support all the officers in all the surrounding counties. They’ve got a thankless job. They face the community, the unknown, not knowing if you’re going to be able to clock out at night, go home and see your family,” said Arnold, an archaeologist from Illinois.

“There are armies on the street – gangs and drug dealers – who have the same philosophy that sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. If the case determines it, and you need to fire, you need to fire. It’s either you or them.”

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Lebanese Missile Lands in Northern Israel

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A rocket launched from Lebanon landed in the north of Israel with no reported casualties or damages, the Israeli Army said Saturday.

 "The missile launched from Lebanon landed east of [the Israeli town of] Acre," the army's press service said. The attack coincided with the revitalization of the Israeli Army defense and Palestinian military forces in the Gaza Strip. Israel's north has been target of numerous missile attacks from Lebanon in the past several years. Small Palestinian groups claimed responsibility for most of them. The Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah is one of the most powerful opponents of the Jewish state, but since the end of the war between the countries in 2006, a ceasefire has been maintained.

Ferguson Protests Undermined by Violence - Police Supporter

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The protesters rallying against the police killing of an unarmed African-American teen in Ferguson, Missouri, undermined their cause with looting and mayhem, an activist at a pro-police demonstration in St Louis told our source on Saturday.

“The people who are cheering on Michael Brown disown their own cause by the looting, pillaging, burning of buildings, chaos and rioting – that isn’t the way to go about protesting, you've got to do it peaceful,” said Jeremy Arnold, 28, a security guard from a neighboring state.

“Michael Brown was 6’4” and 300 pounds, he’s already a weapon. When somebody that big is beating on you, he could very well kill you. When they go for your gun, they might as well have a gun. Officer Wilson was just doing his job, it was a totally justified use of force,” he said.

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China Requests that US Stop Surveilling its Territory - Reports

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Beijing demanded that Washington ceases to closely watch the Chinese territory and creates a plausible atmosphere for the development of bilateral ties, Xinhua news agency reported Sunday.
On Saturday, BBC reported that the United States had accused China of reckless mid-air intercept, in the course of which the Chinese Su-27 plane came too close to the US Boeing P-8 Poseidon in a fourth such incident in the past five months. The Pentagon said such a maneuver contradicted international law and was "very dangerous."
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Chad shut down borders with Nigeria

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According to Punch, the Chadian government has said it will follow in South Africa’s footsteps and introduce travel restrictions to Nigeria and other countries suffering from the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.

Prime Minister Kalzeubet Payimi Deubet said the country would close its border with Nigeria as part of efforts to prevent Ebola from entering the country. He said the decision would have an “economic impact” on the region, but it was necessary for “public health needs.”
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NSCDC Chief escapes assassination by police inspector

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Take a look at press statement below

The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a press release issued, Friday, 22nd August, 2014 by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), CSC Emmanuel Okeh, in which he alleged that an unnamed Police Inspector single-handedly “attempted to open fire” on the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Ade Abolurin and over 200 of his committee members, including representatives of the “Nigerian Army, EFCC, ICPC and office of the Attorney-General of the Federation among others.”

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I'm not running for Governor - Atiku Abubakar

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 Ex-Vice President Atiku Abukar took to his FB wall to debunk recent reports that he's about to contest as Governor of Adamawa state.

Pics: Naval Pilot who died in the Airforce helicopter crash buried

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 Late Flight Lieutenant Onyeka Nwakile, the Naval Pilot who died in the Air Force Mi-35 Helicopter crash on July 21st in Bama, Borno, was laid to rest at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja today.  Present at the burial ceremony were High Commanding Naval officers, members of the family and close friends. May his soul rest in peace..
Sun re O.