Foreign
Minister of France, Jean-Yves le Drian, Tuesday dismissed the demand by the
Boko Haram sect that unless arrested Islamic militias were released, it would
kill the kidnapped French tourists who were captured at a park in northern
Cameroun last week. Drian told French radio his government would not negotiate
for the release of the French tourists. His remarks came after a shocking
video surfaced Monday on YouTube, showing masked gunmen in camouflage standing
over their captives: four boys, their parents and the boys’ uncle.
Minister of France, Jean-Yves le Drian, Tuesday dismissed the demand by the
Boko Haram sect that unless arrested Islamic militias were released, it would
kill the kidnapped French tourists who were captured at a park in northern
Cameroun last week. Drian told French radio his government would not negotiate
for the release of the French tourists. His remarks came after a shocking
video surfaced Monday on YouTube, showing masked gunmen in camouflage standing
over their captives: four boys, their parents and the boys’ uncle.
And
barely 48 hours after a faction of Boko Haram warned against continued violence
in the country, there was yet another bloody attack yesterday with the killing
of ten persons in Borno and Yobe States.
barely 48 hours after a faction of Boko Haram warned against continued violence
in the country, there was yet another bloody attack yesterday with the killing
of ten persons in Borno and Yobe States.
The
stakes are high for France: the lives of four French children, their parents, a
relative and nine other French hostages being held by Al Qaeda-linked militants
in Nigeria and Mali.
“We do
not negotiate on that kind of basis, with these kind of groups. We will use all
possible means to ensure these and other hostages are freed,” Le Drian said in
a radio interview, adding: “We do not play this bidding game, because that’s
terrorism.”
not negotiate on that kind of basis, with these kind of groups. We will use all
possible means to ensure these and other hostages are freed,” Le Drian said in
a radio interview, adding: “We do not play this bidding game, because that’s
terrorism.”
The
mother of the children, Albane Moulin-Fournier, looking drawn and haggard, wore
an Islamic headcover. Her four sons, Eloi, Andeol, Mael and Clarence, sat
cross-legged behind one of the three gunmen shown in the three-minute video.
Behind them was a crudely painted black flag with two AK-47s and the Koran.
mother of the children, Albane Moulin-Fournier, looking drawn and haggard, wore
an Islamic headcover. Her four sons, Eloi, Andeol, Mael and Clarence, sat
cross-legged behind one of the three gunmen shown in the three-minute video.
Behind them was a crudely painted black flag with two AK-47s and the Koran.
The
boy’s father, Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, works in Cameroon for a French gas
company. The family was on vacation and had visited a nature reserve in
northwest Cameroun with Moulin-Fournier’s brother, Cyril Moulin-Fournier, when
they were taken hostage last Tuesday.
boy’s father, Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, works in Cameroon for a French gas
company. The family was on vacation and had visited a nature reserve in
northwest Cameroun with Moulin-Fournier’s brother, Cyril Moulin-Fournier, when
they were taken hostage last Tuesday.
The gunmen threatened to kill the family if the group’s demands
were not met.
He also ruled out any swift withdrawal from Mali, where French forces are
fighting intense battles to dislodge militias from the Adrar des Ifoghas
mountains.
were not met.
He also ruled out any swift withdrawal from Mali, where French forces are
fighting intense battles to dislodge militias from the Adrar des Ifoghas
mountains.
Although
Le Drian stood firm against the kidnappers’ demands, the French Government is
in a delicate position, given the group’s threat to kill the children.
Execution of French hostages could turn public opinion against the intervention
in Mali, which has already cost $133 million.
Le Drian stood firm against the kidnappers’ demands, the French Government is
in a delicate position, given the group’s threat to kill the children.
Execution of French hostages could turn public opinion against the intervention
in Mali, which has already cost $133 million.
France
intervened at Mali’s request last month after Al Qaeda-linked militia, which
last year seized control of more than half of the country, swooped south to
take several towns in central Mali.
intervened at Mali’s request last month after Al Qaeda-linked militia, which
last year seized control of more than half of the country, swooped south to
take several towns in central Mali.
The
kidnappers mentioned French military intervention in Mali as one motive for the
kidnappings. One of the adult male hostages read a statement saying the gunmen
were from Boko Haram, a militia in northern Nigeria. He said they wanted the
release of male and female members of the militia in Cameroun and
Nigeria.
kidnappers mentioned French military intervention in Mali as one motive for the
kidnappings. One of the adult male hostages read a statement saying the gunmen
were from Boko Haram, a militia in northern Nigeria. He said they wanted the
release of male and female members of the militia in Cameroun and
Nigeria.
The
Nigerian gunmen seized the hostages last week, and took them on motorcycles
into northern Nigeria without detection, officials said.
Nigerian gunmen seized the hostages last week, and took them on motorcycles
into northern Nigeria without detection, officials said.
In a bid
to help contain the militia in northern Mali, and elsewhere in the region,
President Barack Obama last week announced that he was deploying 100 United
States troops to Niger Republic to establish a drone base. Niger borders Mali,
Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin and Burkino Faso.
to help contain the militia in northern Mali, and elsewhere in the region,
President Barack Obama last week announced that he was deploying 100 United
States troops to Niger Republic to establish a drone base. Niger borders Mali,
Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin and Burkino Faso.
And the blood-letting continued in Yobe State when six local
vigilante personnel were killed in Nangere on Monday, by men suspected to be
members of the sect.
Another security source in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, revealed that in
a confrontation with the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, Operation
Restore Order, four persons, a leader of the sect from Kano and three of his
subjects were shot dead in Maiduguri.
vigilante personnel were killed in Nangere on Monday, by men suspected to be
members of the sect.
Another security source in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, revealed that in
a confrontation with the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State, Operation
Restore Order, four persons, a leader of the sect from Kano and three of his
subjects were shot dead in Maiduguri.
Confirming
the killing of the six vigilantes in Yobe, the spokesman of the JTF in the
state, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, told journalists that a gang of gunmen attacked
the vigilante group during the briefing before setting out for the task of the
day.
the killing of the six vigilantes in Yobe, the spokesman of the JTF in the
state, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, told journalists that a gang of gunmen attacked
the vigilante group during the briefing before setting out for the task of the
day.
Similarly, the spokesman of the JTF in Borno State, Lt Col Sagir Musa,
confirmed that a very senior leader of Boko Haram was killed alongside three
other members of the sect, while trying to plot a major attack in Maiduguri.
He noted that the incident took place at Kasuwan Kaji area in Maiduguri
metropolis between 2.05 p.m. and 5.50 p.m.
“The operation was intended to arrest a top Boko Haram commander
and his group believed to have come into Maiduguri from Kano to cause havoc,”
he said.
According to him, “It is confirmed that he and his group are responsible for
the recent series of Improvised explosive Device (IED) /weapons attacks on JTF
patrols vehicles and locations.
and his group believed to have come into Maiduguri from Kano to cause havoc,”
he said.
According to him, “It is confirmed that he and his group are responsible for
the recent series of Improvised explosive Device (IED) /weapons attacks on JTF
patrols vehicles and locations.
“The
commander and his three lieutenants lost their lives during an exchange of
fire. Three other terrorists were arrested and are in JTF custody undergoing
interrogation. No casualty recorded on the side of JTF troops and no civilian
was wounded.”
commander and his three lieutenants lost their lives during an exchange of
fire. Three other terrorists were arrested and are in JTF custody undergoing
interrogation. No casualty recorded on the side of JTF troops and no civilian
was wounded.”
He also
revealed that the following items were recovered at the raided location; 3 AK
47 Rifles, two Dane Guns, three magazines, 36 rounds of 7.62mm Special
ammunition, two Bows and 18 Arrows and assorted IED materials.
revealed that the following items were recovered at the raided location; 3 AK
47 Rifles, two Dane Guns, three magazines, 36 rounds of 7.62mm Special
ammunition, two Bows and 18 Arrows and assorted IED materials.
Source:
Thisday
Thisday
