It is not clear why the release of the video – via an IS outlet on messaging app Telegram – was delayed until now.

The video consists mainly of raw footage, including images apparently filmed using a helmet camera belonging to one of the soldiers.

The video seems to suggest that the attack was carried out by IS militants.

The deaths became a major political row in the US when the widow of one of the soldiers, Army Sgt La David Johnson, said President Donald Trump had made her cry during a condolence phone call by suggesting her husband “knew what he signed up for”.

The president later called a US congresswoman’s account of the phone call “totally fabricated”.

What happens in the video?

The propaganda film begins with still images showing an alleged pledge of allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by members of the Sahel-based group Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

JNIM was formed from a number of West African jihadist groups in March 2017, and originally had pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda.

This alleged switch to IS was reported last month by a number of analysts, but it had not been promoted by IS outlets on social media.

The graphic video shows several armed militants walking and running in a desert area, apparently heading for the ambush, reports BBC Monitoring.

The soldiers are seen driving away in a white vehicle, with coloured smoke grenades providing cover.

After a cut in the video, the US soldiers are seen around another vehicle, with one soldier driving and the other two walking beside while seemingly firing at their attackers.

Then, one of the soldiers drops to the ground. The man wearing the helmet camera tries to raise the fallen man.

The soldier driving the vehicle jumps out and helps drag the soldier to cover, before he and the camera-wearer run into the scrub.

While running, the soldier wearing the camera falls to the ground. The footage ends with the camera unmoving, and militants surrounding the soldier, firing at point-blank range.

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Source: BBC

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The bus was loaded with goods from the Boko Station in Kumasi and was intercepted at Buoho in the Afigya-Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region.

Briefing the press on the arrest, ACP Nuhu Jango, the Kumasi Central Police Commander, said 47 parcels the suspected narcotics were found in a large compartment under the car following a tip-off.

The driver Zack Yakubu, 37, and his mate Adamu Zibo, 30, have been arrested and are in police custody and assisting with further investigations.

The nationality of the two suspects has yet to be confirmed.

The vehicle was first impounded following which a thorough check for the suspected narcotics was conducted the next day [Friday, January 12].

“We did not get any positive results [initially] but our intelligence was that there were substances suspected to be narcotics in the bus and that it was concealed somewhere under the back left tire. A compartment had been created there,” ACP Jango.

The police eventually found the compartment under the vehicle and were able to retrieve “well-compressed leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.”

“There were 47 parcels and we have retained those parcels. Our intention is to send them to the lab to confirm whether they are indeed narcotic drugs or otherwise,” ACP Jango stated.

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By: Lauretta Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Research by the Ghana Agricultural Producers and Traders Organization (GAPTO), the umbrella body of agricultural traders, at two markets in Accra and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region says that Ghana imported one hundred and twenty million dollars (or GHc524 million at current exchange rate) worth of onions in 2010 and 2011.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ibNZEIprHYPbv8CxaNM9coFh5mmKEQ26″]The researchers have not been able to update the figures for the subsequent six years but it is believed that the figures could be several times more today [in 2017].

The impact of this is that tons of onions are transported by road along the West African corridors to the Agbogbloshie Onion Market in Accra on daily basis to the detriment of locally produced onions in the country.

It is known that the desire of many Ghanaians for the foreign onion, particularly from neighbouring Niger, is on the rise because many Ghanaian women see the locally grown onions to be hard on their eyes when being sliced for cooking.

Among other things, many of the women claim that it is time consuming when cooking with the locally grown onions (shallots) as compared to the imported ones.

Some women have told Business Day that the locally grown onions are expensive and hard to find on the market unlike the imported ones, claiming those are everywhere. In 2012, a report by the Ghana News Agency had it that the country lost five millions dollars annually from the importation of onions from only Niger.

During Business Day’s investigations at Accra’s fastest growing onion market in Agbogbloshie, Awal Alhassan, an onion dealer at Phobia Onions shed, who has a decade of experience in the sector, said Ghana does not have onions like the ones imported from Niger.

“Our onions are not good as compared to theones imported from Niger; so, Ghanaians prefer Nigerien onions.”

Niger’s onion are different. It’s very sweet, yellowish in colour.

According to Osman Mohammed, Secretary to the Accra Onion Sellers and Porters Co-operative Society, the trade was started by their grandfathers who imported the onions from Niger in baskets before it was transformed into bags. He said the business is growing faster and Ghanaians have grown to like the imported Nigerien onions.

“Every Ghanaian who does business with onions knows the ‘Galemi’ onions in spite of the fact that onions have over the years been imported from Nigeria, among others.”

He peculiar thing is that the onion business has been a family business run by a group of family people who travelled to Niger to bring the commodity.

But in recent times, some people with wealth have invaded the industry and are chartering heavy duty trucks to cart huge tons of the commodity into the country.

He suggested that for Ghana to reduce the importation of onions, farmers here should have more plantations, learn how the Nigeriens did it and as well implement it here so as to also help reduce the high cost of importing onions into the country.

Ghanaians prefer Niger onion [Video]

An earlier visit by citifmonline.com to the onion market at Agbogbloshie revealed that, Ghanaians prefer imported onions, especially onions from Niger as compared to the locally grown ones.

Mubarak Yakubu, who has been selling onions for the past five years in an interview said “honestly, in Ghana we don’t have onions like that [the foreign ones]. Our onions are not as good as the Niger ones so Ghanaians prefer Niger onions.”

The Vice Chairman of the Greater Accra Onion Importers and Sellers Association, said “Most people like onion from Niger because it’s different. It’s very sweet, yellowish in color. It’s very big and we buy it with foreign currency”.

Click below to watch the full video:

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Source: Business Day

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Soldiers pursued the attackers, and reportedly clashed with them near the border with Mali.

Several jihadist groups and other armed forces operate in the area.

The attack was close to where militants killed four US soldiers in an ambush earlier this month.
That in turn drew attention to the US counter-terrorism mission in Niger, a vast nation dominated by the Sahara desert.

Militants in the area include Boko Haram fighters from Nigeria and radicals linked to al-Qaeda and so-called Islamic State, who are mostly thought to be based either in neighbouring Mali or the similarly unstable Libya to the north.

Security sources say that militants in the latest attack were heavily armed with rocket launchers and machine guns. They carried out the assault using four vehicles, each carrying about seven fighters.

The identity of the attackers is not yet clear. Officials say they launched their attack on Ayorou – about 40km (25 miles) inside Niger – from Mali.

Military vehicles are reported to have been seized by the gunmen, at least one of whom was reported to have been killed in the exchange of fire.

President Donald Trump, in a letter to the US Congress in June, confirmed there were 645 US military personnel deployed to Niger to support counter-terrorism missions there.

The US has long maintained that its troops play a “train, advise and assist” role with its partners in the region.

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Source:BBC

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Ghana dominated the first half, creating 13 attempts to Niger’s lone effort. The West Africans created the first chance on 25 minutes, as Edmund Arko-Mensah’s powerful strike produced a top save from Niger goalkeeper Khaled Lawali.

The Ghanaians had to wait until first-half stoppage time to finally break through, as they were awarded a penalty after Eric Ayiah was cut down in the Niger box by Farouk Idrissa. The Ghana captain stepped up to convert the spot-kick for his third goal of the tournament.

The Black Starlets kept pressing forward after the break, with Gideon Mensah missing a great opportunity to double Ghana’s lead from close range. Ayiah could have had a second penalty goal after Idrissa fouled Emmanuel Toku in the Niger box, but Lawali was equal to his spot-kick effort.

The second goal would arrive in the final moments, as substitute Richard Danso’s strike proved too strong for Lawali to keep out of his net, as Ghana capped a convincing performance at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium.

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Source: FIFA

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In 2012, Ghana News Agency reported that Ghana loses $5 million annually from the importation of onions.

A visit by citifmonline.com to the onion market in Agbogbloshie revealed that, Ghanaians prefer imported onions, especially onions from Niger as compared to the locally grown ones.

Mubarak Yakubu, who has been selling onions for the past five years in an interview said “honestly, in Ghana we don’t have onions like that [the foreign ones]. Our onions are not as good as the Niger ones so Ghanaians prefer Niger onions.”

The Vice Chairman of the Greater Accra Onion Importers and Sellers Association, said “Most people like onion from Niger because it’s different. It’s very sweet, yellowish in color. It’s very big and we buy it with foreign currency”.

According to Yakubu, an increase or decrease in the prices of the onions depends on their encounter with the police and how long it takes the onions to arrive in Ghana.

“The way you bought it over there when you come hear and it is spoilt, you will definitely reduce it,” he said.

He also added that “the price that you bought it over there, before you come the police will also take something from you so you have to add it to it. That makes the price sometimes go higher.”

Yakubu admonished that to reduce the importation of onions, we as a people should have more plantations, learn how the Nigeriens do it and implement it in Ghana so as to also help reduce the high cost of onions.

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By: Roberta Edem Abbeyquaye/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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A group of 75 set out in three vehicles but were abandoned by traffickers, who feared the security forces.

A local official told the BBC that dozens of bodies had been buried, and 23 survivors were taken to the town, although one later died.

African migrants travel through the desert aiming to reach Libya and cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

However, the journey is perilous as the migrants are crammed into pick-up trucks and have few supplies.

Two weeks ago Niger troops rescued 92 migrants who were on the brink of death in the Sahara Desert.

The group, which included women and children, was abandoned without water and food.

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Source: BBC

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The Ghanaians and Nigerians were trying to get to Libya, according to Nigerien news site Sahelien.

The six survivors, all women, walked to a remote village and are being looked after in Dirkou, Niger, Red Cross official Lawal Taher said.

They say several children among the dead.

So far no-one has visited the site to identify the bodies, Mr Taher added.

The route from Niger to Libya is one of the main ways migrants reach North Africa before crossing the Mediterranean Sea to get to Europe.

Crossing the Sahara is one of the most perilous parts of the journey as migrants are crammed into pickup trucks often with only enough room for a few litres of water, reports Reuters news agency.

Authorities told Reuters that is it almost impossible to know how many have died in the vast and unpoliced Sahara.

Last June, the bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 children, were found in the Sahara Desert near Niger’s border with Algeria.

It appeared they had died of thirst after being abandoned by their smuggler, a government minister said at the time.

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Source: BBC

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The first match will come off on Easter Monday April 17, 2017 at the Accra Sports Stadium at 3:00 p.m.

The second encounter with the same opponent will take place at the same venue three days later on Thursday April 20, 2017, also at 3:00 p.m.

The match is part of the Starlets’ preparations for next month’s Africa Under 17 Championship in Gabon.

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Source: Ghana FA

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The 51-year-old Scot, who lost his job on April 22 after less than 10 months in charge, says he has “moved on” from the experience as a “wiser and more knowledgeable coach and manager.”

Writing in the Sunday Times, and commenting at length on his departure for the first time, he said United fans should now appreciate that things are changing at their club.

“It could well be that gone are the days of long-term planning at United. They were fully aware of the task I had. It was unfortunate I wasn’t given more time to succeed,” he said.

“Since leaving, I have received some very good offers and am tempted by one or two of them. I have not closed the door on anything and am open-minded about my next step in management, and whether it will be in the UK or abroad.

“Another possibility is that I may choose to have a break and enjoy watching and observing football throughout the world. What I do know for sure is that I have moved on.”

He also resisted any temptation to criticise his predecessor Alex Ferguson, who, it was reported when he left, did not give him his support as the crisis surrounding him grew.

Moyes said: “I have spoken to Sir Alex Ferguson on several occasions in the past few weeks. We met recently at the LMA dinner in London. I had nothing but support from Sir Alex during my time as manager.”

United ended the season in seventh place with Ryan Giggs as the interim manager.

Dutchman Louis van Gaal, in charge of the Netherlands side at the World Cup, has since been appointed as their new permanent manager and will take up his job after the finals in Brazil.

Source: Reuters

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