A regional force put in place to counter the Boko Haram jihadist group in Nigeria will start operations in November, West African leaders decided after a summit in Niger on Tuesday.
The leaders agreed to speed up the creation of a headquarters for the force and have military battalions deployed “to our respective borders” by November 1, the heads of state said in a joint statement.

The new headquarters for the force is now due to be completed by November 20, the leaders added.
The announcement followed a day of talks between the leaders of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Benin, and the foreign minister of Cameroon.
“After gaining independence, the survival of our countries has never been so threatened by the menace of terrorism, by the forces of division and by organised crime,” said Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou who hosted the summit.
In July, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon had each pledged 700 soldiers to create a multi-national force to fight the Nigeria-based group, which has killed more than 10,000 people since 2009.
The militants are thought to be in control of more than two dozen towns and villages in northeastern Nigeria. Nigeria’s military has struggled to meet a vow to retake all lost ground as part of an offensive launched in May 2013.
In May, African leaders agreed at a Paris summit called by French President Francois Hollande to cooperate against the group through a slew of measures including joint border patrols and intelligence sharing.

source:http://www.ralphcrown.com/2014/10/wafrican-troops-ready-to-destroy-boko.html

A PDP lawmaker in Benin, Edo State, Hon. Rasak Momoh, was last night attacked by unknown persons at his residence in the legislators quarters.
‎Honourable Momoh who is currently receiving medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), was allegedly left for dead by his attackers.

A close member of his family who pleaded for anonymity, told journalists this morning that the injuries sustained by the suspended lawmaker are such that he may be flown about for proper treatment.The lawmaker was suspended by the leadership of Edo State House of Assembly over his failure to resume plenary at the old Assembly chamber at the Government House where the Assembly relocated to pave way for renovation of the Anthony Enahoro Assembly complex at the King’s Square.
Rasak who represents Etsako West Constituency 1 in the House, was alleged to have raised the alarm two weeks ago that Governor Oshiomhole has hired assassins from the riverine area of the state to eliminate him.
When contacted ‎on phone, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Noble Uwoh, asked for time to check with the DPO in charge of the area, saying that he was yet to be informed.

source:http://www.ralphcrown.com/2014/10/suspended-edo-pdp-lawmaker-attacked-by.html

An Abuja High court has halted the 11 October bye-election in Adamawa state and has ordered the swearing-in of Bala Ngilari, deputy to impeached Governor Murtala Nyako.

On 2 October, the court reserved judgment till today in a suit filed by Ngilari.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola reserved judgment after listening to the submissions of counsel to different parties in the suit, insisting that he would not give a definite date for the judgment but has now ordered the swearing-in of Ngilari.

source: http://www.ralphcrown.com/2014/10/court-halts-adamawa-bye-election-orders.html