African press review 24 March 2016

African press this morning offers revelations about the Belgian prosecutor's estimateion of 30 terrorists linked to Brussels attacks. Nigeria beefs up airport security, South Africa vows ot pursure a ruthless crackdown against wreckless driving this Easter weekend.

DR

Mail and Guardian, South Africa

The Brussels attacks remain in the spotlight in Africa with South Africa's Mail and Guardian publishing an update on efforts by investigators to track down the those resposible for the carnage.

In an article titled "What we know about the Jihadi network responsible for the attacks in Paris and now Brussels," the Johannesburg newspaper says that four people carried out coordinated attacks at Brussels airport and a metro station that left 31 people dead and another 270 wounded on Tuesday.

More than 30 people have been identified as being involved in a network behind the Paris attacks on November 13, with links now established to this week’s bombings.

The paper says it is able to report that Belgian authorities have so far charged 11 suspects, including three men accused of helping Abdel Abdeslam arrested on Friday in connection with the Paris attacks to escape Paris.

The Nation, Nigeria

Nigeria's the Nation reports from the Grande Place in Brussels which became a focal point for grief, solidarity and resistance to the country’s worst terror atrocity, as messages of support poured in from around the world.

Accordingto the paper, thousands of people, old and young alike, flocked to the picturesque square near central Brussels as night fell.

They left flowers, candles and even beer bottles, while scores scrawled colourful measures on the paving stones, many in English, paying tribute to the victims and calling for love and unity.

Nigeria's Sun says the Federal Government on Wednesday stepped up security at all its airports following Tues­day’s terrorists attack on Brussels airport

It quoted the spokesperson for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria as telling reporters that in addition to police, fresh scanners and sniffer dogs have been deployed to assist in detecting any form of threat or sabotage of the airports in the country.

Cape Times, South Africa

And in South Africa, Cape Times is monitoring contingency plans by police and traffic officers to deal with crime and curb road deaths over the long Easter weekend.

The Western Cape's top Transport and Public Works official told the paper they will be out will be out in force and warns of severe consequences for motorists who break the law after statistics showed that drivers were responsible for more than 80 percent of road fatalities over the Easter period last year.

Police are to deploy operational members in high numbers to increase visible policing especially at high-risk routes that have seen some of the more serious crashes over the Easter period in recent years.

And talking about Easter, Kenya's Daily Nation has tips for people planning to travel during the hectic weekend but wary about being robbed while they are away.

If you are 20 to 35 year old, live alone, love your gizmos and post your plans on social media, then you have the ideal profile sought by conmen tracking their social media pages of their of would-be victims to determine the best time to strike.

The Standard

Also in Kenya the Standard Digital unravels the ordeal of a 17-year-old student in the Nairobi slum of Kibera almost burnt to death by her teacher who suspected her of being a devil worshipper.

The girl says she was bundled into the staffroom last week by two of her teachers, tied with wood and ropes sprinkled with kerosene as the principal stoodby and watched.

She survived but suffered severe burns on her hands and the legs.

The girl's father said his daughter now recovering in hospital.

"You cannot be a Christian and devil-worshipper at the same time, he told the Standard adding that they should have just called me to pick my child, if they didn't like her."