​Trump warns Iran over attack on U.S. embassy in Baghdad

President Donald Trump has delivered a stern warning to Iran over alleged rocket attacks on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

The warning came in a tweet which includes a photograph of three unexploded rocket shells that the president claimed came from Iran.

“Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets.

“Three rockets failed to launch. Guess where they were from? IRAN.

“Now we hear the chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq.

“Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible.

“Think it over,’’ the tweet reads.

In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) alleged that Sunday’s attack was “almost certainly conducted by an Iranian-backed rogue militia group’’.

Reports say several missiles were fired at the heavily secured Baghdad’s diplomatic zone, leaving an Iraqi soldier injured at a security checkpoint.

The military reportedly said several buildings and cars were damaged after most of the rockets landed in a residential neighbourhood near the U.S. embassy.

The embassy said the explosions caused minor damage to its compound but that there were no injuries or casualties.

In a statement, the spokesman of CENTCOM, Capt. William Urban said 21 rockets were fired on the area which he said was the largest rocket attack since 2010.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “strongly” condemned the attack, blaming it on militias linked to Iran.

The two countries came close to war in January after Iran claimed responsibility for multiple rocket attacks on two military bases housing U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it fired the missiles in retaliation for the death of Iranian top military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in a U.S. strike in Iraq days earlier.

The world held its breath as Trump went into a Security Council meeting following the attack.

Addressing a news conference after the meeting, Trump ruled out an attack against Iran, saying an assessment of the damage showed that no American soldier was harmed. (NAN)

​Why I won’t negotiate with criminals — Gov Bello

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has reiterated his stand not to engage in any negotiation with criminals either bandits, kidnappers or terrorists, noting that such stand was a key ingredient in Kogi State’s fight against insecurity.

The Governor made this known on Wednesday while responding to questions on security in the North Central Region on Channels TV, Sunrise Daily, monitored by Vanguard reporter.

On reason for his statement, the governor gave an instance of a particular amnesty offered to a renowned bandit group in Nassarawa state after a particular top politician assured of the genuineness of the group’s repentance adding that the group, unfortunately, reneged on their promise and were currently wreaking havoc in communities within that region.

He pointed out that strong political will was required to tackle security challenges of any type and the steps his administration took in a state bedevilled with security challenges was to deal ruthlessly with crime perpetrators and their sponsors.

Governor Bello added that security was not only the responsibility of the Nigerian Army, the police and other security operatives but community ownership must also be instilled to facilitate trust and active participation of the people in their own security and safety, particularly intelligence sharing.

He alluded that the resolution of the North Central Governor to establish military barracks was in a bid to further strengthen the existing effective security architecture in the region adding that such barracks would be a designated training location for the military operatives where also special forces could be easily deployed for operations.

The Governor stated that it was a common practice by politicians who aspired political offices to engage the services of thugs to help intimidate their opposition adding that when the political season was over these people were often abandoned by their employers.

He mentioned also that many of these people venture in several criminal activities and become a thorn in the flesh of the state, pointing out that while seeking office, he refused to indulge in such dangerous politics in the interest of the people of the state.

The Governor reaffirmed that there was no gainsaying in his earlier comments alleging selfish politicians at all levels as saboteurs of security and safety of the country and the citizens.