Taliban's Mullah Omar is dead

CNN)[Breaking news update, posted at 12:12 p.m. ET]

Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar died in April 2013 in Pakistan, a spokesperson for Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said Wednesday in a news release, citing "credible information."

"The government of Afghanistan believes that grounds for the Afghan peace talks are more paved now than before, and thus calls on all armed opposition groups to seize the opportunity and join the peace process," the statement reads.

[Original story, published at 11:53 a.m. ET]

Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar died more than two years ago in a hospital in Pakistan of an unknown illness, a senior Afghan intelligence agency official told CNN on condition of anonymity Wednesday.

Separately, an adviser to the country's chief executive said Mullah Omar is believed to be dead.

"All odds and indications point to the fact that he has been dead for at least two years," said Omar Samad, senior adviser to Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

The intelligence official described Mullah Omar as having happened 28 months ago in a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Wednesday's comments came after the BBC and the Wall Street Journal reported earlier in the day that unnamed sources in Afghanistan were saying the reclusive Islamist militant leader was dead.

Omar's death has long been rumored, yet always dismissed by the Taliban. Twice in 2011, the Taliban denied speculation that he had been killed.

Earlier this year, the Taliban published a "biography" of the reclusive Afghan leader, saying he was still in charge. The piece appeared on a Taliban website. The goal of the biography, experts said, was to dispel rumors that he died, possibly years ago.

Mullah Omar still leads Taliban, biography published in April 2015 says

And just two weeks ago, the Taliban released a statement attributed to Omar, saying he backed peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

Mullah Omar purportedly backs Afghan peace talks in July 2015

Leaders of deadliest terrorist groups 7 photos

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Omar, once a rural Islamic cleric, created the Taliban -- the plural of the Pashto word for student -- in the 1990s in the wake of the Soviet Union's withdrawal from the country, aiming to impose Islamic law on Afghanistan and remove foreign influence from the country. The Taliban eventually swept across the nation.

With most of the country under Taliban control, he set himself the goal of transforming Afghanistan into the purest Islamic state in the world, declaring himself Amir-ul-Momineen, or head of the Muslims.

He was Afghanistan's de facto leader from 1996 until late 2001, when a U.S.-led coalition invaded and booted the Taliban from power for refusing to hand over Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 terror attacks.

That led to a Taliban insurgency that continues to this day, even as U.S. and other NATO troops are drawing down their numbers in Afghanistan.

The U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan ended last year, leaving the Afghan military to lead the fight against the Taliban. The thousands of NATO troops that remain in Afghanistan are there in a training and support role.

The U.S. government offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Omar's capture.

HICM- UBa Explores Bafut Palace, Saddle Hills

 Both the teaching and administrative staff of one of the most revered schools at the University of Bamenda, the Higher Institute of Commerce and Management- HICM on Saturday 25^th of July, 2015 visited Bafut. The visit which ties squarely with the vision and beliefs of the director of the school, Prof. John Ebai Egbe took them to the Bafut Palace (one of UNESCO’s Cultural World Heritage Site), and to Saddle Hills Ranch (one of North West’s Hidden Treasures).

Although the visit was a respect of tradition by the school because they have in the past years been in other places in the country, it provided a unique opportunity for the administrative and teaching staff of the institution to exchange pleasantries, rub shoulders and feel as one. It was a moment of communion and frank exchanges to foster cohesion and the camaraderie within the school working milieu.

While at the Bafut palace, the visiting staff had the opportunity to visit the Paramount Fon of Bafut and received royal blessings. The exchanges with the Bafut Fon who is also a promoter of professional education were constructive, reassuring and fruitful. The also had the time to discover some of the marvels of the Fondom and to understand the day to day running of not only the palace but also the palace museum.

The Saddle Hill Ranch provided the inquisitive staff with the “come and see” scenery. Here the staffs were given a treat comparable to known. Coming from an institution of commerce and management, they were much more interested in the means of signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enable their student do internship there in future.

Speaking to his staff at launch, the director congratulated them for their hard work. According to him, HICM was at the forefront at the university not because of magic but because of the collaboration of the staff. He pleaded with them to ensure that the serenity that reigns in the school should continue. “No human endeavor is perfect but I know you have been doing your best. I want you to understand that I am open and at anytime anyone with any problem can accost me. We will sort it out. We are all human being with one destiny. I believe in work and play reason why we are here. Next time we would be going to other places which are even better than this. Last time we were at Ndawara Tea Estate and today we are here. That is the spirit we should keep; the spirit of oneness and companionship.” He told his staff.

In response, the staff social president appreciated the easy going nature of their boss. He said there was no other better place to work than at HICM because of the total cooperation and solidarity exhibited by their boss in all spheres. Describing him as a father, he said Prof. John Ebai Egbe had a heeding ear, and always ready to resolve any problem as presented. This has made HICM to standout distinct as an award winning institutions at the university. While wishing for better more things to come in future, the staff social president promised that they were going to double their effort since there is always room for improvement and better performance. The outings though was to relax, have fun, exchange pleasantries and socialize, it would also help them create acquaintances and connections to be able to better orientate their students on the job market when they leave school.

Man arrested in Yaounde with bombs. His nationality is not yet known. he is a white and is now under police custody. reports say he was arrested around Briqueterie neighbourhood

Details subsequently. in the main time, there have been another suicide bomb in Garoua. about 19 killed and sixty wounded. no one has yet claimed responsibility. but Boko Haram is very active in the area. the government has called for calm and is reassuring the population as tough security measures are being taken. there have been several arrests in the area.

“Court Break” in Bamenda

          In a daring manner like the tough Mexican drug lord, Joaquin Guzman aka El Chapo  who escaped from a maximum security Prison in his country, bystanders around the premises of the court in Bamenda were stunned and thrilled to broad daylight “Court break” on Thursday the 16^th July 2015 in a scene typical of Hollywood movies.

          A hardened detainee whose names this reporter could not get outwitted the alertness of warders and other forces of law and order to escape from court into the bush. The detainee, according to eyewitness account was brought to court to face judgment after several months in detention at the Bamenda Maximum prison. While in court, he was handcuff free and without any form of restrain. He therefore took advantage of his new found temporal freedom in court, the doziness of those around him; the surprise element always employed by criminals and took to the heels. His daring escape from court took everyone by surprise as he take flight pass onlookers, looked left, then right in a sec., crossed the main road and vanished into the bush.

          In what looked identical a typical Nigerian movie, some warders and police well armed started chasing him. His youthfulness, agility and speed proved better than that of his hunters. Some of than whom after running for some few meters were already panting for lack of breath refused to comment to this reporter as to what actually happened in court.

          According to a source around the court, it was not the first time the prisoner was in court. He is a hardened criminal who should always be in handcuffs or in chains for security reasons. His being in court without manacles and maximum safety was therefore unintelligent on the part of those who brought him. Many people around the court premises when the incident happened did not hesitate to suspect foul play “a la maniere du Cameroun,” and were of the opinion that full investigation are carried out to establish the truth.

           At moment, a manhunt for the fugitive is currently underway with little or no hope of getting him around here or in the near future.  Sources say his disappearance is a real threat to the security of the population.

5 German Engineers to Install the Bamenda III Giant Water Plant

Benjamin Ngah

          The scarcity of water in Bamenda III and the untold woes of the masses due to the scarcity of this priceless liquid would in the near future be a thing of the past. This would be as a result of the near completion of the giant water project undertaken by the Bamenda III council with the help of the Germans.  

          On Saturday 18^th of July, 2018 the council received a shipment of 800 pipes of ten meters each, fittings and more than a hundred bags of aluminum sulfate or chlorine from Germany. The special sulfate or chlorine would be used in the treatment of water.

            The water project which begun some three years ago is already at an advanced stage with the completion of the construction of the water reservoir.

          Speaking to some journalists at the Bamenda III Council premises when the pipes, chlorine and other accessories were being unloaded, Mayor Fongu Cletus expressed his total joy and fulfillment  that at last in a few days or months ahead, his municipality would boast of supplementary potable water. According to him, the little schemes of water around the area could not adequately supply the ever increasing population of the municipality. “Another alternative source of water needed therefore to be harnessed, made affordable and available to the population,” he said. 

 In three weeks or so, the Mayor revealed, five powerful engineers from Germany would be in the municipality to mount the water plant and to pass on their technical knowhow to some council workers on how to repair and manage the water plant. This would be to ensure maintenance and continuity.

          The water project according to the Mayor has generated some jobs and would still generate jobs as a committee would be put in place in the council to see into the management of the water to ensure sustainability.  “Health is wealth and nobody can joke when it concerns water. Our lives depend basically on water and no one can joke when it concerns water.” He said.

          Expressing their gratitude to the Mayor of Bamenda III and the Germans for providing them such an important aid, some Bamenda III denizens said it would be like a dream come true if the severe problem of water shortage is a thing of the past. Many said they had lost hope and were just waiting for the worst as CamWater has been unable to supply constant water to the populace and did not even give any concrete reason for the intermittent supply.  

Here is What Holland Told Fru Ndi at the French Embassy

Benjamin Ngah in Bamenda

           The euphoria raised within government spheres by what has been described by many as a “stop over” visit by the French President; François Holland to Cameroon is fading out. Many a Cameroonian are yet to make meaning of the visit and what the country stands to gain from such a visit apart from the promise by the French President to help Cameroon in the fight against Boko Haram. The economic pacts to tune of billions signed did between the Cameroon government and the French did not go down well the throat of many because of the lack of accountability and transparency in the management of state affairs, inertia, corruption and the lack of true will to democratize and check all these.   They argue that the country had had several such accords before with different countries, yet nothing seems to be working and the country remains highly indebted, poor and weak with poverty visible in the eyes of the majority due to acute unemployment.  

           One Cameroonian who was invited at the Unity Palace to receive the French President, and who later met with him one to one at the French embassy in Cameroon was Ni John Fru Ndi, leader of Cameroon’s major opposition party, the SDF. For close to four minutes of intense exchanges with the French President, Fru Ndi says, the discussed the state of democracy in Cameroon, Boko Haram and the French aid to Cameroon.

          On the state of democracy in Cameroon, the chairman of the SDF said, “I had good talks with the French president and tell you before a French president could condescend to receive the opposition leaders as Holland did is a good sign. I told him that the electoral system in our country was not good and that the French being one of the countries that sponsors Cameroon, they should not send the French tax payer’s money to be wasted in bad governance.”  To this according to Fru Ndi, President Holland made it clear to him that it was time “Cameroonians take their responsibilities into their own hands.”  But he informed Holland that for the past years of the democratic struggle in Cameroon, Cameroonians have been maimed, killed and imprisoned since the powers that be uses excessive force to quell down dissent. He pointed out to Holland that, “there is no way that the people can fight a government that is training its army to fight and suppress the people.” The chairman further questioned Biya claims of always winning in elections in the country and sought to know who changed the constitution and who tied the hands of the Supreme Court President in 1992 elections during which he utterly and persuasively won.

           On Boko Haram, the SDF chieftain expressed satisfaction that Holland informed him that France was going to help Cameroon in the domain of training. According to Fru Ndi, the Cameroonian armed force have been doing a tremendous job so far in the fight against Boko Haram but needed more skills in combatting terrorism. “If France should come in to train our soldiers who hitherto were not well train to fight insurgency is a good thing and we can only appreciate the French for that. We may not have to rely on foreign soldiers again to defend our national territory. I appreciate France for that.”

           Although the Anglophone problem which has been gaining momentum of recent did not feature on their table because of time constraints, Fru says the Anglophones are problem is a purely Cameroonians problem and the Anglophones are already taking the right path he pledges his unconditional support to them.