The Nigerian Army has arrested four Boko Haram members who were planting Improvised Explosive Devices along a major supply route for the Nigerian Army at Gombiri, Borno State.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in an electronic mail on Friday that the troops recovered two heavy IEDs from the insurgents.
He said the suspects were arrested following information by an arrested terror suspect, Lawan Abbai.
Usman said that the troops arrested four fleeing Boko Haram suspects who claimed to be on their way to surrender to troops.
He stated, however, that preliminary investigation conducted by the troops revealed that the four suspects were the ones alleged to have been planting IEDs in the area.
He said, “Following information provided by an arrested suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Lawan Abbai, troops on Operation Lafiya Dole yesterday morning (Thursday) carried out mines and Improvised Explosive Device’s clearance at Gombori which was along the troops’ main supply route.
“The troops located and recovered two heavy IEDs buried in the ground by suspected remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.
“In the process of recovering the deadly IEDs, the troops intercepted four fleeing suspected Boko Haram terrorists who said they were on their way to surrender to the troops.
“On preliminary investigation, they were identified as confirmed Boko Haram terrorists planting IEDs along troops’ routes by their arrested colleague, Lawan Abbai.”
He added that the troops also rescued five women and a baby from the Boko Haram members in the area.
Friday, 12 August 2016
Be loyal or leave, Bauchi gov tells LG chairmen
The Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has told the 20 local government chairmen in the state to be loyal to the state government and the All Progressives Congress or get sacked.
Abubakar gave the warning while swearing in the caretaker committee chairmen at the Government House in Bauchi.
He said the era of reliance on allocations from the Federal Government was over, asking them to pursue ways of improving their internally generated revenues and embark on projects that would be able to pay their staff.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy at the event, Mr. Nuhu Gidado, warned the local government chairmen against corrupt practices, indolence and incompetence.
He said the choice of the chairmen was influenced by their loyalty, contributions to the party and the development of the state.
He said, “Let me remind you that the assignment given to you is based on trust. You have a duty to God and an obligation to your fellow human beings. Thus, you should not be tempted to abuse the trust bestowed on you. You should remember that you are there to serve the people and not to become their bosses.
“This administration attaches great importance to probity, accountability and strict adherence to due process in governance. To this end, I admonish you to be judicious in handling the finances of the local governments, be fair in your dealings with all people and shun bootlickers and rumour mongers.
“Let me re-echo my earlier warning that this administration has no place for the corrupt, indolent and incompetent people. You should also be absolutely loyal to the present administration in the state and be totally committed to its objectives.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let me warn that I will not hesitate to remove any chairman found wanting or disloyal to the government or our party.”
The caretaker committee chairmen sworn in are: Dahiru Futuk (Alkaleri Local Government Area; Adamu Abubakar (Bauchi); Jacob Wuya (Bogoro); Mohammed Dagauda (Dambam); Baba Hamza (Darazo); Musa Bayero (Dass); Danlami Abubakar (Toro); Alhassan Mahmood (Warji) and Ibrahim Udubo (Gamawa).
Others are Alkassim Ibrahim (Ganjuwa); Umar Zabi (Giade); Idris
Sa’idu (Itas Gadau); Isa Wabi (Jama’are); Mohammed Wakili (Katagum);
Mustapha Cheledi (Kirfi); Mohammed Suleiman (Misau); Sule Idris (Ningi); Ahmed Abdulhamid (Shira); Aminu Danbab (Tafawa Balewa) and Mohammed Sakwa (Zaki).
Police uncover Ombatse’s plan to attack Nasarawa communities
The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Bello, said the police command had uncovered plans by a militant group known as Ombatse to launch attacks on the Assakio and Dandere communities in Obi Local Government Area of the state.
Bello stated this after a security meeting held at the palace of the Aren Eggon, Bala Angbazu.
The Ombatse militant group, which was indicted by the Justice Joseph Gbadeyan-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry for the killings of over 120 security operatives at Alakyo village on May 7, 2013, was also said to be responsible for the continuous destruction of lives and property in the state.
Bello said the militants had perfected plans to concurrently attack Dandere and Assakio on Saturday (today), hence his visit to the monarch.
He said, “I am here in your palace to seek for your royal support to nip the planned attacks on Dandere and Assakio villages in the bud and to also bring to your attention that some Eggon youths are planning to reintroduce Ombatse militia in the state.”
Responding, the monarch promised to support the police so as to ensure lasting peace in the state.
The monarch also asked parents in Eggon to monitor the activities of their children as he would not fail to report youths who plan to cause crisis in the community to the security operatives.
He asked his chiefs and elders to ensure that all subjects within their jurisdictions were closely monitored so as to ensure that the Ombatse militant group was not allowed to regroup.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Nasarawa State in last year’s general elections, Mr. Labaran Maku, on Friday condemned planned attacks by the Ombatse militant group.
Maku, who addressed journalists after a meeting at the party’s secretariat in Lafia, said, “Violence in any structure, either by Ombatse, Fulani herdsmen or any other group does not bring any form of improvement to the state.
“As an Eggon man, who is conversant with the culture, Ombatse has never been part of the Eggon culture and we never knew anything about such a group until the 2011 governorship election.”
Bello stated this after a security meeting held at the palace of the Aren Eggon, Bala Angbazu.
The Ombatse militant group, which was indicted by the Justice Joseph Gbadeyan-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry for the killings of over 120 security operatives at Alakyo village on May 7, 2013, was also said to be responsible for the continuous destruction of lives and property in the state.
Bello said the militants had perfected plans to concurrently attack Dandere and Assakio on Saturday (today), hence his visit to the monarch.
He said, “I am here in your palace to seek for your royal support to nip the planned attacks on Dandere and Assakio villages in the bud and to also bring to your attention that some Eggon youths are planning to reintroduce Ombatse militia in the state.”
Responding, the monarch promised to support the police so as to ensure lasting peace in the state.
The monarch also asked parents in Eggon to monitor the activities of their children as he would not fail to report youths who plan to cause crisis in the community to the security operatives.
He asked his chiefs and elders to ensure that all subjects within their jurisdictions were closely monitored so as to ensure that the Ombatse militant group was not allowed to regroup.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Nasarawa State in last year’s general elections, Mr. Labaran Maku, on Friday condemned planned attacks by the Ombatse militant group.
Maku, who addressed journalists after a meeting at the party’s secretariat in Lafia, said, “Violence in any structure, either by Ombatse, Fulani herdsmen or any other group does not bring any form of improvement to the state.
“As an Eggon man, who is conversant with the culture, Ombatse has never been part of the Eggon culture and we never knew anything about such a group until the 2011 governorship election.”
Police arrest boy, 15, others for burning nine houses
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 15-year-old boy, Ismaila Suleiman, and his accomplices for setting nine houses in different areas in the Bauchi metropolis ablaze.
The spokesperson for the command, Mahmood Mohammed, said in a statement on Friday that detectives attached to the General Investigation Department of the command arrested the suspects on August 3, 2016 after a tip-off.
He said upon investigation, it was discovered that the suspect and his accomplices used to burgle their victims’ homes before setting them on fire.
Two suspects have been arrested for buying stolen goods from Suleiman, namely Adamu Suleiman and Hussaini Ibrahim.
The police spokesperson said, “On August 3, 2016, detectives attached to the Yelwa Division, following a tip-off, arrested one Isaila Suleiman (15) who invaded the house of one Misbahu Adamu (37) behind Isa Yuguda’s Guest House.
“Discreet investigation revealed that the suspect and his syndicate used to soak rag in petrol and throw into the windows of houses, and while the house is on fire, the suspect will trespass into the houses, pretending to help put out the fire, but will steal valuables.
“The suspect also stated that one Hussaini Ibrahim is the receiver of the stolen items, who, upon interrogation, confessed to the crime.”
Mohammed said one Abdulazeez, aka Zuzu, a member of the syndicate, was now at large.
“The suspects confessed to setting nine houses ablaze at Fadam Mada, Kafin Galadima and Dass Park areas of Bauchi Metroplois,” he said, adding that after investigations, the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution, while efforts were on to apprehend the fleeing suspect and bring him to book.
The spokesperson for the command, Mahmood Mohammed, said in a statement on Friday that detectives attached to the General Investigation Department of the command arrested the suspects on August 3, 2016 after a tip-off.
He said upon investigation, it was discovered that the suspect and his accomplices used to burgle their victims’ homes before setting them on fire.
Two suspects have been arrested for buying stolen goods from Suleiman, namely Adamu Suleiman and Hussaini Ibrahim.
The police spokesperson said, “On August 3, 2016, detectives attached to the Yelwa Division, following a tip-off, arrested one Isaila Suleiman (15) who invaded the house of one Misbahu Adamu (37) behind Isa Yuguda’s Guest House.
“Discreet investigation revealed that the suspect and his syndicate used to soak rag in petrol and throw into the windows of houses, and while the house is on fire, the suspect will trespass into the houses, pretending to help put out the fire, but will steal valuables.
“The suspect also stated that one Hussaini Ibrahim is the receiver of the stolen items, who, upon interrogation, confessed to the crime.”
Mohammed said one Abdulazeez, aka Zuzu, a member of the syndicate, was now at large.
“The suspects confessed to setting nine houses ablaze at Fadam Mada, Kafin Galadima and Dass Park areas of Bauchi Metroplois,” he said, adding that after investigations, the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution, while efforts were on to apprehend the fleeing suspect and bring him to book.
Thunderstorm cuts short Yankees' pregame ceremony for A-Rod
NEW YORK -- Mother Nature put a damper on Alex Rodriguez's pregame ceremony.
He was always a lightning rod, after all.
Rodriguez's tribute before his final game with the New York Yankees on Friday night lasted just five minutes due to a massive thunder and lightning storm.
No. 13 came out of the dugout at 7:02 p.m. ET to a loud ovation. But by 7:07 p.m., he and his special guests were heading for cover -- along with the rest of the Yankee Stadium crowd.
The ceremony began with a short video tribute of his career highlights as ominous, dark clouds moved over the ballpark. Then A-Rod was joined on the field by his family, Reggie Jackson, Didi Gregorius, Starlin Castro, Hal Steinbrenner and Mariano Rivera, who received a raucous ovation himself.
A-Rod laughed while standing with his daughters as thunder boomed in the background. Rodriguez received a framed jersey during the ceremony and a base signed by all of his teammates.
The game against the Tampa Bay Rays started after a delay of nearly an hour. Rodriguez, in his first at-bat in the first inning, lined an RBI double to right field, making it 1-1.
Earlier, a massive media contingent surrounded the batting cage as Rodriguez took batting practice for the final time in his Yankees career, which began in 2004.
The Yankees will be releasing Rodriguez after Friday's game. He will then become a special adviser for the team starting in spring training, assuming he doesn't try to continue his baseball career elsewhere.
Brandon Steiner of Steiner Sports, which has a game-used memorabilia deal with the Yankees, said that his company will be selling items used by Rodriguez in the game -- during the game.
Rodriguez will wear three jerseys, one every three innings, Steiner said. The jersey for the first three innings was being auctioned off on the company's website as the game started. The minimum bid was set at $7,500. Game-used cleats were also available (minimum bid: $1,500), his hat (minimum bid: $1,000) and batting gloves (minimum bid: $100).
Despite Friday night being Rodriguez' last game in pinstripes the Yankees will pay him through next season. If he doesn't sign with another team, he will end his career with $452 million in career earnings and four home runs shy of 700.
U.S. women's basketball routs Canada, gets top seed in Group B
RIO DE JANEIRO -- There was no question coming into the Olympics that the U.S. women's basketball team could score.
With the offense struggling at points Friday for the first time, the Americans turned up their defensive effort to dispatch Canada.
Maya Moore scored 12 points and the U.S. clinched the top seed in the group with an 81-51 win over its northern neighbors.
"I think we played really hard today on defense," guard Sue Bird said. "Everyone's been talking about our offense, but it's been our defense that has been the most consistent. Tonight was a good example of that. It wasn't that we couldn't score, but we just weren't scoring at the rate you saw in the first three games. It was our defense that was there for us to rely on."
The Americans (4-0) had been scoring at a record pace, topping 100 points in each of their first three contests -- the first time a team's done that at the Olympics. But they couldn't get into an offensive rhythm for the first 20 minutes against Canada.
The U.S. was out of sync, throwing the ball away on fast breaks and missing open shots. Canada, which already had sealed a berth in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive Olympics, wasn't intimidated. The teams had played an exhibition game before the Olympics started and Canada lost by 40, never recovering from a slow start.
It was the U.S. that struggled early in this one. The Americans only scored 18 points in the first quarter, their lowest scoring output in any period in Rio. Canada only trailed 18-16. That's when the U.S. turned up its defense. For nearly 10 minutes, the Americans held Canada without a basket and slowly extended their advantage.
Canada got its only bucket in the second quarter on a three-point play by Nirra Fields with 39 seconds left in the period and the U.S. led 36-22 at the half. Coach Geno Auriemma said the team did nothing special during that stretch other than just play hard defensively.
"Our defensive effort was great," said Moore, who scored all of her points in the first half.
Diana Taurasi helped the U.S. get some separation against Canada. She hit two 3-pointers in a row to start an 8-0 run that gave the Americans their first 20-point lead of the contest. She now has 18 in the Olympics, breaking her own team record of 15 set in 2012.
Canada could only get within 15 the rest of the way. Miranda Ayim scored eight to lead the Canadians.
Despite the loss, Canada (3-1) has already won more games than in any other Olympics. The Canadians hope to win the country's first medal in the sport. They finish pool play Sunday against Spain, trying to secure second place in the group.
"It's huge, we're here to make history," Fields said. "We already made history and our goal is to really just medal. Finish the highest we can. Playing against Spain is a very important game and we'll be ready for it."
The victory was the Americans' 45th straight in the Olympics. They are halfway to a sixth consecutive gold medal.
While the U.S. roster is stacked with some of the greatest players in UConn's storied history, including Moore, Canada has its own Husky in Nurse, who will begin her junior year at Connecticut this fall. Nurse came into the game leading the team in scoring, but had a rough contest against the U.S. and her college coach Auriemma. She scored just three points, missing eight of her nine shots.
Nurse's game probably could be summed up in one play: She had the ball stripped by Moore near the top of the key and then chased the former UConn great down the court as Moore converted a layup.
"We all have those moments, kind of welcome to the next level moments. I had them, she'll have them," Moore said. "And then when she's in my position, she'll be giving it to the next generation. So, it's one play. We all have to get our pockets picked. But I was trying to be aggressive. I'm sure it'll be something she uses for the next game."
In other games on Friday, Serbia won its first contest ever in the Olympics, beating China 80-72. A victory over Senegal on Sunday would advance Serbia to the knockout round. Spain routed Senegal 97-43 in the late game Friday, setting up a pivotal game against Canada on Sunday.
Making a Murderer subject Brendan Dassey's conviction overturned
A US federal judge has overturned the murder conviction of Brendan Dassey, whose case was examined in Netflix's popular Making a Murderer documentary.
Following the ruling by the judge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dassey, 26, will be released within 90 days, unless the state decides to retry him.
Dassey and his uncle Steven Avery were convicted of murdering young woman Teresa Hallbach in 2005.
Avery and Dassey, who was 16 at the time, were sentenced to life in prison.
Makers of Murderer defend TV show
Netflix documentary leads to debate
On Friday, Judge William Duffin stated in the court ruling that investigators in the 2007 trial made false promises to Dassey by assuring him "he had nothing to worry about", the Associated Press news agency reports.
"These repeated false promises, when considered in conjunction with all relevant factors, most especially Dassey's age, intellectual deficits, and the absence of a supportive adult, rendered Dassey's confession involuntary under the Fifth and 14th Amendments," the judge said.
The verdict comes after Dassey's appeal was rejected by state courts.
The case received wide attention in the US and across the world after the release of the 10-part documentary Making a Murderer in December 2015.
The filmmakers cast doubt on the legal process to convict Dassey and Avery.
The documentary tells the real-life story of Avery, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years for sexual assault.
After his release he was then accused and found guilty of murdering Teresa Halbach.
The series focused on the conduct of law officials in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, who risked a huge financial penalty over the first case.
Following the ruling by the judge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dassey, 26, will be released within 90 days, unless the state decides to retry him.
Dassey and his uncle Steven Avery were convicted of murdering young woman Teresa Hallbach in 2005.
Avery and Dassey, who was 16 at the time, were sentenced to life in prison.
Makers of Murderer defend TV show
Netflix documentary leads to debate
On Friday, Judge William Duffin stated in the court ruling that investigators in the 2007 trial made false promises to Dassey by assuring him "he had nothing to worry about", the Associated Press news agency reports.
"These repeated false promises, when considered in conjunction with all relevant factors, most especially Dassey's age, intellectual deficits, and the absence of a supportive adult, rendered Dassey's confession involuntary under the Fifth and 14th Amendments," the judge said.
The verdict comes after Dassey's appeal was rejected by state courts.
The case received wide attention in the US and across the world after the release of the 10-part documentary Making a Murderer in December 2015.
The filmmakers cast doubt on the legal process to convict Dassey and Avery.
The documentary tells the real-life story of Avery, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years for sexual assault.
After his release he was then accused and found guilty of murdering Teresa Halbach.
The series focused on the conduct of law officials in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, who risked a huge financial penalty over the first case.
Ukraine Crimea: Russia sends new air defence missiles
The Russian military has announced the delivery of new air defence missiles to Crimea, in a move scheduled before the latest tension with Ukraine.
The S-400 Triumph missile systems were earmarked for troops in Crimea last month, Russian media said at the time.
Moscow also announced exercises in Crimea next week to simulate an attack by weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Russia, which annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, said this week it had foiled a Ukrainian sabotage mission.
It accused the Ukrainian government in Kiev of trying to send saboteurs into Crimea and reported the deaths of a soldier and a secret police officer in an operation to foil the alleged plot.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow might be forced to cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine if the crisis worsened.
Denying the accusations, Ukraine placed its troops on alert along its de facto border with Crimea, and along its front line with Russian-backed rebels holding parts of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east.
A column of Ukrainian tanks could be seen rolling towards Crimea on Friday.
'Syrian air defence'
A statement by Russia's Southern Military District, which incorporates Crimea, said the missiles had been received by an air defence regiment in Crimea.
According to the statement, quoted by Russian news agencies, the missiles were successfully tested on the Kapustin Yar test range in southern Russia.
Russia's Interfax news agency says the missiles are designed to hit airborne targets at a range of up to 400km (249 miles) and ballistic missiles at a range of up to 60km, flying at speeds of up to 4.8km per second.
The missiles are being installed in Crimea to protect Russia's Hmeimim air base in Syria among other things, it adds.
Last November, Russia deployed S-400s at Hmeimim, after Turkey downed a Russian Su-24 bomber.
The Russian defence ministry announced (in Russian) exercises in Crimea and the Volgograd region for 16-19 August to simulate the effect of an enemy attack using WMD.
Radioactive, biological and chemical defence troops will be deployed in the manoeuvres, which will involve the use of Solntsepyok rocket systems in Volgograd, as well as an artificial smoke screen to block any surveillance.
Separately, the ministry said (in Russian) it would be sending an additional 40 aircraft to the Southern Military District this year.
'Concern and outrage'
Ukraine's envoy to the UN asked Russia on Thursday to prove its allegations, and said some 40,000 Russian troops were massed on the Crimea-Ukraine border.
His Russian counterpart told the UN Security Council of Moscow's "concern and outrage" at the alleged incursions.
Russian state TV broadcast an apparent confession by a man named as Yevhen Panov, saying he was part of a Ukrainian defence ministry force sent into Crimea "to carry out acts of sabotage".
He said the group also included officers of Ukraine's military intelligence.
Reports in Ukraine say Mr Panov is a former volunteer fighter who has more recently been associated with a charitable organisation called Heroes of Ukraine.
Crimea was annexed by Russia after a majority of its mostly ethnic Russian population voted to secede in an unrecognised referendum on self-determination, held under military occupation.
The annexation was relatively bloodless, in sharp contrast to the ferocious fighting which followed in Donetsk and Luhansk.
The S-400 Triumph missile systems were earmarked for troops in Crimea last month, Russian media said at the time.
Moscow also announced exercises in Crimea next week to simulate an attack by weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Russia, which annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, said this week it had foiled a Ukrainian sabotage mission.
It accused the Ukrainian government in Kiev of trying to send saboteurs into Crimea and reported the deaths of a soldier and a secret police officer in an operation to foil the alleged plot.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow might be forced to cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine if the crisis worsened.
Denying the accusations, Ukraine placed its troops on alert along its de facto border with Crimea, and along its front line with Russian-backed rebels holding parts of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east.
A column of Ukrainian tanks could be seen rolling towards Crimea on Friday.
'Syrian air defence'
A statement by Russia's Southern Military District, which incorporates Crimea, said the missiles had been received by an air defence regiment in Crimea.
According to the statement, quoted by Russian news agencies, the missiles were successfully tested on the Kapustin Yar test range in southern Russia.
Russia's Interfax news agency says the missiles are designed to hit airborne targets at a range of up to 400km (249 miles) and ballistic missiles at a range of up to 60km, flying at speeds of up to 4.8km per second.
The missiles are being installed in Crimea to protect Russia's Hmeimim air base in Syria among other things, it adds.
Last November, Russia deployed S-400s at Hmeimim, after Turkey downed a Russian Su-24 bomber.
The Russian defence ministry announced (in Russian) exercises in Crimea and the Volgograd region for 16-19 August to simulate the effect of an enemy attack using WMD.
Radioactive, biological and chemical defence troops will be deployed in the manoeuvres, which will involve the use of Solntsepyok rocket systems in Volgograd, as well as an artificial smoke screen to block any surveillance.
Separately, the ministry said (in Russian) it would be sending an additional 40 aircraft to the Southern Military District this year.
'Concern and outrage'
Ukraine's envoy to the UN asked Russia on Thursday to prove its allegations, and said some 40,000 Russian troops were massed on the Crimea-Ukraine border.
His Russian counterpart told the UN Security Council of Moscow's "concern and outrage" at the alleged incursions.
Russian state TV broadcast an apparent confession by a man named as Yevhen Panov, saying he was part of a Ukrainian defence ministry force sent into Crimea "to carry out acts of sabotage".
He said the group also included officers of Ukraine's military intelligence.
Reports in Ukraine say Mr Panov is a former volunteer fighter who has more recently been associated with a charitable organisation called Heroes of Ukraine.
Crimea was annexed by Russia after a majority of its mostly ethnic Russian population voted to secede in an unrecognised referendum on self-determination, held under military occupation.
The annexation was relatively bloodless, in sharp contrast to the ferocious fighting which followed in Donetsk and Luhansk.
IS leader in Afghanistan killed, US believes
Hafiz Saeed Khan, leader of so-called Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan and Pakistan, died in a US drone strike last month, the US believes.
Last year, the Afghan intelligence agency said it believed Saeed Khan had died in a drone attack in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar.
However, IS insisted its leader had survived that attack.
On Friday, the US said he had been killed in a new drone attack in Nangarhar's Achin district on 26 July.
The drone strike was carried out three days after IS carried out its most devastating attack in Afghanistan, killing 80 people and wounding 230 at a rally of Shia Muslims from the Hazara minority in the capital Kabul.
IS, a Sunni Muslim group, regards Shia as heretics.
Military operation
Pentagon spokesman Gordon Trowbridge said Saeed Khan had been killed in an "air strike", without specifying if a drone had been used.
"Khan was known to directly participate in attacks against US and coalition forces, and the actions of his network terrorized Afghans, especially in Nangarhar," Mr Trowbridge added.
On 26 July, Afghan security sources announced that some 120 IS militants had been killed in a military operation in Nangarhar but they referred to Kot district, not Achin, and did not mention Saeed Khan.
The militant was reported killed by a drone strike in Achin in July 2015 as well.
Afghanistan's Taliban group has frequently clashed with IS since January 2015.
The Taliban's dominance in a region home to numerous local and foreign militant groups is facing a serious challenge from IS, which has been gaining some support.
There has also been evidence that IS is trying to recruit Taliban fighters, with several Taliban commanders declaring allegiance to IS.
Wednesday, 10 August 2016
Colombia razes notorious Bronx slum in capital Bogota
The authorities in the Colombian capital, Bogota, have begun demolishing a notorious district in the centre of the city called the Bronx.
The area had become a focus for drug addicts, criminals and prostitution.
Bogota's mayor said the area would be turned into a new commercial sector.
In May security forces sent in to clear the area found scores of children who had been forced into prostitution, and hundred of drug addicts.
They also discovered a tunnel used by traffickers which ran from a house to a local shop.
Local people argue the problem of street crime has not been solved as many of the former dwellers of the Bronx are now roaming around the centre of town or have been starting to concentrate in other areas of the capital, the BBC's Natalio Cosoy reports from Bogota.
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