African press review 10 May 2013

The African press is dominated by a massacre of policemen in northern Nigeria by a new cult that has brought a new dimension to the spiral of violence that has rocked the nation.

Punch newspaper says at least 30 security operatives were killed and their bodies burnt beyond recognition after they were ambushed in central Nasarawa state as they tried to arrest the leader of the Ombatse pagan movement.

The cult, claiming to purge social vices in the region, had also been carrying out a forced campaign of conversions targeting Christians and Muslims in the state.

The Nation reports scenes of anguish in the state capital Lafia on Thursday as the bodies of the slain policemen burnt beyond recognition were brought home, with the wives of the victims blocking the town's main highway for hours.

About a hundred officers have disappeared since the Nasarawa crisis broke out two days ago, according to Vanguard.

Meanwhile President Goodluck Jonathan has cut short his planned state visit to Namibia to return home to take charge of the crisis. ThisDay recalls that Jonathan had been in South Africa during the last three days for a state visit and for a meeting of the World Economic Forum on Africa.

Friday’s Nigerian papers also posted comments about Thursday’s meeting between the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, and 40 Boko Haram commanders imprisoned at a prison on the outskirts of Abuja.

The Guardian says that the one-on-one discussion with the imprisoned terror suspects lasted for more than three hours, but there was little detail about the outcome.

In Kenya, Daily Nation reports that Deputy President William Ruto has disowned a government bid to stop the crimes against humanity charges facing him and President Uhuru Kenyatta at the International Criminal Court.

Lawyer Karim Khan’s statement came after Kenya’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Macharia Kamau, petitioned for the United Nations Security Council to drop charges of crimes against humanity filed against Ruto, Kenyatta and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang.

Barrister Karim Khan told Daily Nation that Vice President Ruto had cooperated with ICC since his case started and will continue to do so.

Standard Digital quotes lawyer Khan saying that the petition may have been a ‘personal wish’ but could not have been Government policy, as his client was well aware the UN had no power to terminate criminal cases. According to the paper, Kenya remains a state party to the Rome Statute which established the ICC, and that binds William Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta to cooperate and appear in court when they are required.

A storm is still gathering in South Africa over the so-called Gupta gate scandal. It involved the use of the strategic Waterkloof Air force Base in Pretoria to ferry guests from India to South Africa for a glamour wedding involving a powerful Indian family.

Mail and Guardian says parliament has ordered a probe into how a private aircraft found itself at the high security facility. This was after a document revealed that the pilot had clearance from the South African Defense Forces. The paper says President Jacob Zuma, who has close ties with the wealthy Gupta family, is lying low as the united ANC vents its anger.