By Juliana Katung

A fight broke up Tuesday, at a venue of press briefing in Johannesburg, South Africa, between the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Central Command team and the supporters of MPs Andile Mngxitama and Khanyisile Tshabalala – both suspended from the party, for causing a fractional dispute within the party.

MPs  Mngxitama and Tshabalala held a press Conference last week to reveal the misuse of the party’s fund by its leadership.

This has caused fractional battle within EFF in recent time, which led to their suspension in the late night of Monday; both notified through Email – also tweeted on Tuesday morning – but still went ahead with the press briefing as scheduled, but were interrupted by a few members from the Central team.

Speaking on behalf of the central team, spokesperson Mbuyiseni NTelos said they expected Mps Andile Mngxitama and Khanyisile Tshabalala to respect the decision of the majority of the party that suspended them.

The spokesperson who stated this in a statement made available to reporters said the central command team of the party has taken a unanimous decision to take disciplinary action against the two fighters.

“The leadership hopes that the fighters Mngxitama and Tshabalala will also co-operate and give the internal process of the organisation due respect and attention.

“This is strictly an internal process and we shall not be engaging the media about it beyond this point”, the statement added.”

Meanwhile, Mngxitama had to be escorted out of the Cape Sun Hotel in Cape Town last week Thursday, where he had intended holding a press conference ahead of the state-of-the-nation address by President Jacob Zuma.

Fights broke out between EFF members and suspended members supporters same Thursday.

The Press conference earlier scheduled last week Thursday according to Mngxitama’s which was later reschedule for Tuesday morning, was to  clarify “why some of the EFF MP’s cannot insist for the party leadership to payback the alleged misuse of fund.

However, EFF leader Julius Malema questioned Mngxitama’s loyalty to the party, asking him why he will hold a press briefing on the day of the state- of-the-nation address, if he loves the party as he claim.

Egypt says it has carried out air attacks on locations in Libya believed to be occupied by Islamic State.

The attack is part of Egyptian response to a video released by Islamic State showing the killing of about 21 Members of Egypt”s Coptic church in Libya.

Report says the joint attack carried out with Libya’s Airforce hit Islamic State camps, training sites and weapons storage areas in Libya.

A Libyan official, Saqer al-Joroushi told Egyptian state television between 40 to 50 militants were killed in the attack. “There are casualties among individuals, ammunition and the (Islamic State) communication centres,”

He said “More air strikes will be carried out today and tomorrow in coordination with Egypt.”

The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaking on a National Television shortly after the release of the video, said his country would react on the deaths of its citizen as it deems fit.

Acccording to him, necessary means and timing would be choosen by Cairo for the avenge of the 21 Egyptian christian brutal killing.

Sisi, who said he met with the country’s top military commanders to discuss the killings, called for seven-day mourning .

The killing was showed in a video released on sunday morning by the jihadist group on a social media.

The beheaded Egyptian Copts were captured in Libya by the Islamic group for some time and later killed..

In the video, militants in black marched the captives, dressed in orange jump suits, to a beach and were forced on their knees, then beheaded.

The Five minute video appeared on the twitter feed of a website that supports the Islamic State with the caption: “The people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church.

In the video, a militants stood with a knife in his hand before the killings, saying “Safety for you crusaders is something you can only wish for.”

A statement by the Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox church on Sunday which confirmed the incident said it was “confident” that those who beheaded a group of Egyptian Copts in Libya will be punished.

Meanwhile the United States on Sunday condemned the killing describing the act as despicable and cowardly murder.

Reports from Gombe say Nigerian military has successfully repelled attempts by suspected Islamist Boko Haram Sect from taking over the city this Saturday.

Eyewitnesses say the insurgents attacked the city early morning having successfully conquered Dadin Kowa town, some 40 Km east of Gombe metropolis and surrounding villages.

Residents of BCGA and Yelenguruza neighbourhood in Gombe say there were sound of bombs and artillery guns in the early hours of Saturday extending till noon.

Military fighter jets were also seen carrying out attacks in areas where the insurgent were said to occupy.

A resident of Hina village, 20 Km along Gombe – Dadin Kowa road, Gambo Bright said there was mass movement by people of the village running in different directions, some towards Gombe, while others towards the popular Bima Hills.

He said “the sound of heavy gunshot by members of the sect woke us up and we had to run for our lives. If you hear the sound of their guns you will know that we are only risking the lives of our soldiers in fighting against this people – you can’t compare what our soldiers have with what these people are firing.

“I ran through the bush on my motorcycle, not knowing the direction I was taking, and somehow, miraculously I found myself in Deba – the Local Government Headquarters.

A resident of Gombe Hassan Shuaibu says the insurgents entered the town through different routes – wide apart and carried out their attacks.

Another resident said “it appeared the military had intelligent report on the attack and therefore stationed their men along Bajoga Road, on the northern axis of Gombe metropolis – only for them to be taken unaware by the insurgents through the eastern axis.

We hear they had their way despite the few soldiers that confronted them around Hina Junction outskirts of Gombe.”

According to him places attacked in Gombe metropolis include the Police Station in Dadin Kowa Park, the State Police Criminal Investigation Department, and the Army Quarter Guard. The Police Public Relations Officer, Fwaje Attajiri’s phone number was not reachable to confirm the information.

A Gombe based Journalists, who chose to remain anonymous for security reasons told AFRICA PRIME NEWS that “everywhere is calm now now, but there is a 24 hour curfew in place which restricts people from moving.”

About five suicide attacks had been carried out in Gombe this year – the last – two weeks ago, shortly after the re-election rally of President Goodluck Jonathan in Gombe township stadium.

Last year attacks were made by the Islamist insurgents on Nafada, Bajoga and Ashaka towns, but in each case, they were overpowered by the Nigerian military.

A 24hours curfew has been imposed on Gombe and environs in Northeast Nigeria, following attack by members of Islamist Boko Haram Sect.

A statement by Secretary to the Sate Government Sule Bage, asked residents to remain indoors and allow the military take control of the situation.

Eyewitnesses say the Insurgents made attempt to overrun the Nigerian Army Barracks in Gombe but were met with stiff resistance, which repelled their attacks.

Residents of BCGA and Yelenguruza neighbourhoods of the metropolis say they woke up this morning – to deafening sound of bombs and guns – and discovered they were under siege by Boko Haram.

The military engaged the Sect in battle using air and artilery might and successfully repelled attacks on the Barracks and city.

Mr. Istifanus, a resident of State Low Cost Housing Estate says “as I spaek with you this afternoon, there is no movement in the area and everywhere seems to be quiet, except for few sounds of gunshots at intervals.”

MORE LATER….

By Bello Adisa

Stakeholders on maternal health in Nigeria have called on professional medical bodies to step up checks on mandatory continuous education of members to reduce maternal deaths in the country.

In a communique at the end of a one day Forum on Maternal Health Accountability in Kaduna Northwest Nigeria, the stakeholders expressed concern on how Nigerian women keep dying in pregnancy and childbirth related cases.

They stressed that quackery and unethical practices have led to the death of many women hence the need for professional bodies, as well as regulatory bodies to step up surveillance on health service providers with a view to addressing such deaths.

The stakeholders called on government to ensure timely supply of drugs and other consumable at the public health facilities to encourage patronage by citizens.

Participants at the Forum also want civil society organisations and the media to hold government to account on providing accessible healthcare services to the populace.

The communique in parts read, “Government should ensure adequate, and availability of Drugs and consumables in health facilities.

“The media should partner CSO’s and showcase MCH programs in Kaduna state.

“The media should allocate more time in their news reportage and. Programming and focus on maternal and child health issues.

“The CSO’s should continue in their Advocacy to reach out to more stakeholders,

“The CSO’s should continue with sensitization in the communities for community members to patronize health facilities for maternal health attention.

“The CSO’s should collaborate with the media executives on promoting maternal health issues in Kaduna state,” the communique however reads.