Pakistani officials have announced the death of a key militant commander in an airstrike allegedly carried out by a US drone.
Three intelligence officials said on Tuesday that Abu Bakr, a commander of the Haqqani militant Network, was killed earlier in the morning when his house in northwestern Pakistan was targeted by missiles.
They said Abu Bakr’s house was located in Dewal, a village some five kilometers south of the city of Thal, where a US drone had been seen hovering. They said the militant commander was inside the house as two missiles hit the property.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said an aide to the militant commander was also killed in the strike.
Residents said three more people, including a boy, were injured in the attack.
Local media said Abu Bakr, known by his original name Omar, was from Afghanistan’s Khost province and had been living in the tribal regions of Pakistan over the past years. He then moved to Dewal after the Pakistani army launched a massive crackdown to hunt key militant leaders in the restive Waziristan region.
There was no official confirmation from Washington neither from US military officials based in the region. Some reports said the drone strike, if confirmed, could be related to a recent attack in the diplomatic region of the Afghan capital, Kabul, which killed some 150 people. The Afghan government has blamed the Haqqani network in Pakistan for the high-profile attack. However, in a later audio message issued by senior leaders, the group denied any involvement.
Islamabad has repeatedly criticized Washington for carrying out uncoordinated airstrikes in its territory, saying they violate Pakistan's sovereignty.
Three intelligence officials said on Tuesday that Abu Bakr, a commander of the Haqqani militant Network, was killed earlier in the morning when his house in northwestern Pakistan was targeted by missiles.
They said Abu Bakr’s house was located in Dewal, a village some five kilometers south of the city of Thal, where a US drone had been seen hovering. They said the militant commander was inside the house as two missiles hit the property.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said an aide to the militant commander was also killed in the strike.
Residents said three more people, including a boy, were injured in the attack.
Local media said Abu Bakr, known by his original name Omar, was from Afghanistan’s Khost province and had been living in the tribal regions of Pakistan over the past years. He then moved to Dewal after the Pakistani army launched a massive crackdown to hunt key militant leaders in the restive Waziristan region.
There was no official confirmation from Washington neither from US military officials based in the region. Some reports said the drone strike, if confirmed, could be related to a recent attack in the diplomatic region of the Afghan capital, Kabul, which killed some 150 people. The Afghan government has blamed the Haqqani network in Pakistan for the high-profile attack. However, in a later audio message issued by senior leaders, the group denied any involvement.
Islamabad has repeatedly criticized Washington for carrying out uncoordinated airstrikes in its territory, saying they violate Pakistan's sovereignty.
Aliru Momoh, the Otaru
of Auchi Kingdom, in Edo State, yesterday, announced the arrest of 24
suspected Boko Haram members in the community by the Nigerian Army.
The monarch disclosed this in an interview at his palace in Auchi,
headquarters of the Estako-West Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the commandant of the Nigeria Army School of Engineering,
near Auchi, informed him of the arrest of the suspected insurgents in
his palace.
“Shortly before you came, I had audience with the commandant. He
informed me about what they are doing and the arrest of some 24
suspected members of Boko Haram operating under the guise of Fulani
herdsmen in the community,” he said.
The Otaru said: “The commandant also informed me that the suspects would
be transferred to Benin.”
He commended the commandant for taking proactive steps to fight the
suspected insurgents in the forest, saying that the “issue of security
needs careful planning and execution.”
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/24-boko-haram-suspects-arrested-auchi/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/24-boko-haram-suspects-arrested-auchi/
Aliru Momoh, the Otaru
of Auchi Kingdom, in Edo State, yesterday, announced the arrest of 24
suspected Boko Haram members in the community by the Nigerian Army.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/24-boko-haram-suspects-arrested-auchi/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/24-boko-haram-suspects-arrested-auchi/
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