National and International News Roundup: Friday 27 December 2019

Three suspected assassins and human bones traffickers are currently being detained by the judiciary police in Abong Mbang Upper Nyong Division, East Region of Cameroon over the tragic death of a young girl, 12 years old Jamila. Sources say the individuals with the aid of a neighbour tricked and kidnapped Jamila from their family compound in the town of Abong Mbang on December 3th, 2019, took her to a remote area in the town of Messamina where she was violently raped, before being butchered for the sum of eight hundred thousand France CFA (800 000frs).

The police force in the city of Douala is bereaved.  Police commissioner Ernest Bissene Ewouty, commander of the 2nd battalion of the mobile police squad died in the early hours of the day at the Laquintinine hospital. Family sources say the health of the senior police officer had consistently deteriorated lately. He has spent several months at the Laquintinine hospital, where he finally died.

Some three persons abducted in Ewe Muyuka subdivision Thursday, December 26th,2019, remain missing more than 24 hours after. They were taken by unknown individuals to an undisclosed destination, and their vehicle burnt. It remains uncertain why they were kidnapped.

A road accident in Efok, Obala today claimed the lives of over six persons, with several others severely injured. Local sources say the passenger minibus left Bafia for Yaoundé when it collided with a heavy-duty truck at Efok. The six persons died on the spot, while several others were transported to the hospital in very critical conditions.

The President of PWD Bamenda, Mr Abunde Pascal, says information circulating in Bamenda about PWD rejecting a financial package from Minister Atanga Nji Paul is fake. Talking to DrayInfos, Friday, December 27, 2019, Mr Abunde Pascal said some officials of the team were invited by Atanga Nji Paul to his residence Thursday, December 26, 2019, where he congratulated the team for its outstanding performances. He said they later got a call from the minister to assemble players at Ayaba hotel, but it was a difficult task because many of the players are on vacation with some out of town. The time frame to bring the players together for the event according to him was also too short which explains why they could not make it at Ayaba Hotel to meet the minister.

The so-called ‘Islamic State’ (IS) terrorist group has released a video claiming to show the killing of 11 Christians in Nigeria. IS said it was part of its recently declared campaign to “avenge” the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi during a US raid in Syria in October. The Nigerian government has not reacted to the claims made by the terrorist organisation.

A well-known Moroccan YouTuber has been jailed for four years and fined about $4,000 (£3,000) after being found guilty of insulting the country’s king. Mohamed Sekkaki was arrested earlier this month after criticising King Mohammed’s speeches and for calling Moroccans donkeys.

Seven police and seven soldiers have been killed by “heavily-armed terrorists” who ambushed a convoy in the western Niger region of Tillaberi. This was confirmed by the country’s interior minister who in a statement, stated that “after a fierce battle… seven police and seven national guards were killed”.

Nationwide strikes in France against pension reform have entered their 23rd day, making them the longest in three decades. The previous record in 1995 saw rolling strikes force the government to bury similar reform efforts – but Prime Minister Edouard Philippe remains adamant that this cabinet will not capitulate to the demands of the protesters. Commuters faced fresh misery on Friday as railway workers once again stayed off the job in protest at government plans to merge 42 pension schemes into a single, points-based system.