Daily Watch – Kebbi bandit leader killed by hunters, Pretoria denies weapon ties with Russia

A notorious banditry leader, popularly known as “Yellow” in Zuru Emirate of Danko/Wasagu and its environs in Kebbi has been killed with some of his gang members by local hunters in a joint security operation. While speaking to journalists on the matter, the Commander of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) in the state, Musa Hussaini-Rambo said he had been kidnapping, raping, killing and terrorising communities in the area for over seven years. He added that the bandit had carried out at least five attacks this year alone. He commended security agencies in the state for coordinating operations with them.

One person has been killed and several others injured as Amotekun operatives in Ekiti and traders at the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti clashed while enforcing a relocation order by the Ado Local Government Council. Daily Trust reported that the Amotekun operatives were trying to relocate traders from the major road to a new location at Agric Olope but met resistance. Some noncompliant traders attacked the Amotekun officers which made open fire. The paper said two officers were seriously injured in the attack.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it has seen “good progress” in delivering bilateral financing assurances to Ghana that are needed for the IMF executive board to consider a three-year, $3 billion loan programme for the West African country. The package was agreed at the staff level in December. IMF spokesperson, Julie Kozack, said, “We have seen strong progress toward creditors delivering on these financing assurances, and we’re hopeful that they can be delivered very rapidly.” Last month, Ghana’s finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, said that Ghana’s official creditors are poised to grant financing assurances and form a committee co-chaired by France and China—key steps for it to secure a $3 billion IMF loan, Reuters reported. The country’s bilateral lenders are expected to formally grant financing assurances as soon as Friday—confirmation that they will then start talks to give Ghana the relief needed to make its debt sustainable, the news agency quoted unnamed sources as saying. The assurances could pave the way for the IMF executive board to approve the $3 billion loan next week.

Pretoria rejected allegations by the US envoy that South Africa supplied weapons to Russia. The US ambassador to the country accused South Africa of having provided weapons to Russia via a cargo ship. During a press conference, Reuben Brigety pointed to an alleged weapon supply that took place last December at a naval base near the city of Cape Town. “Amongst the things that we noted were the docking of the Russian Cargo ship Lady R in Simons Town, between 6-12  December 2022, which we are confident uploaded weapons, and ammunitions onto that vessel,” Brigety said. The diplomat added, this “does not suggest to us the actions of a non-aligned country.” The South African Presidency noted with concern the US envoy’s remarks adding “the Lady R matter had been discussed” by both sides who reached “an agreement for an investigation to run its course, and that the US intelligence services would provide whatever evidence in their possession.”