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Latest News: Training and recruitment is ongoing - Wednesday, 02 March 2011 22:54

week 12

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Woman, 5 Policemen, Others Arraigned for Kidnapping

Two sets of the suspected kidnappers, including a woman, five policemen and eight others, were arraigned in Courts 8 and 9 sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. One of the alleged kidnappers who reportedly died in police custody, Umoh Ignatius Ukpong, was among those whose names appeared on the charge sheet. The suspects are facing a four -count charge including conspiracy to commit a felony, and kidnapping contrary to Section 556(1) (f) of the Criminal Code, Cap.38, Vol.2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, and Section 1 (2) of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009.

Police Inspector Shot Dead in Aba

A police inspector, Ahamba Njoku, has been shot dead by robbers in Aba, Abia state. The Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the killing, penultimate Saturday. He said that Njoku was killed by hoodlums on Thursday night about 11pm during an exchange of gunfire while he was on a patrol with other policemen. He said that two policemen also sustained bullet injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. He said two of the robbers escaped with bullet wounds and abandoned the vehicle they used for the operation. He said that the hoodlums had on Wednesday snatched a Peugeot 307 saloon car belonging to a chief superintendent of police, which they used for the operation.

Man Jailed for Selling Baby

An Abia State Chief Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Mrs. E.K.O. Umah, has sentenced one Chigoziem Nwankwo to six years imprisonment for selling a four-year-old girl. The court also sentenced him to another three months imprisonment for stealing mobile handsets. Chigoziem was alleged to have sold Rejoice Ibe, stolen from a couple for N60000 to an accomplice, Bashiru, said to be at large. During his arrest, Chigoziem was said to be violent and assaulted the parents of the child with a kitchen knife. Meanwhile, one Mr. Ndubuisi Nnamachi, 65, was remanded in prison for allegedly killing one Mr. Nweke David by setting him on fire, in conspiracy with Mr. Chisom Nkuche and Okechukwu David. This incident was said to have happened on January 21, 2012, at Akirika Ukwu in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia state.

200 Illegal Refineries Destroyed in Niger Delta

The Commander, Sector two of the Joint Military Task Force, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said that the joint operation had so far destroyed 200 illegal refineries in Rivers and Bayelsa States in 2011. Buratai disclosed that the operation was carried out last year alone. He said that more than 200 suspects had been arrested for operating illegal refineries in the affected states while some tankers used for bunkering activities had been impounded by the task force. Buratai said the task force had been using intelligence to track criminals involved in piracy and oil theft in the affected states. He said the task force had also destroyed a militant camp in Bayelsa State in February.

Three Killed, Others Injured in Bayelsa Cults Clashes

Unidentified gunmen believed to be cultists attacked bars along Hospital Road Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, penultimate Sunday night, killing at least three persons. It was learnt that the bandits, who allegedly wore police bulletproof vests, stormed the relaxation spots about 9.30pm and opened fire on the victims. According to eyewitnesses, trouble started in the afternoon when suspected cultists shot a 23-year-old student of the Niger Delta University. It was learnt that the victim was a cousin of a former member of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Eris Paul, popularly called Ogunboss. The victim was rushed to the Glory Land Hospital, but sensing that their victim could still be alive, the cultists were said to have regrouped and moved to the hospital. However, unknown to them, the patient had been relocated to an undisclosed hospital before their arrival. The Police spokesman, Eguavoen Emokpae, confirmed the shooting, saying that six persons had been arrested.

Tanker Sinks Police Gunboats, Others in Rivers

Three police gunboats and five other boats sank in Port Harcourt in a mishap involving a tanker ship at the Abonnema Wharf in the Rivers State capital. Already, the Captain of the ship named ‘ABUJA’, identified by the police as Mr. Derek Osla, an Indian and the Nigerian pilot, Mr. Dickson Otubike, are helping the state police command in its investigation of the accident. The tanker was said to have navigated dangerously at the Wharf and hit the nearby Nigeria Marine Police Jetty. Police spokesman in the state, Benjamin Ugwuegbulam, confirmed the arrest of the offending tanker.

Ex-Imo Speaker Abducted

The former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Godfrey Dikeocha, who was abducted, penultimate Friday, from his hometown in Aboh Mbaise LGA is yet to regain freedom. About eight gunmen, reportedly arrived at the compound of the former speaker, pretending to be security agents, took him away to an unknown destination. The kidnapped ex-speaker had earlier been adopted as the consensus national delegate for his local government and the gunmen were said to have struck two hours after he held a political meetings with some PDP members.  Similarly, a medical doctor, Dr. Henry Dozie, was also kidnapped from his hospital a day earlier. Dozie is the husband of the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Anna Dozie. The gunmen, who kidnapped Dr. Dozie, posed as patients.

Community Tells Shell, NPDC to Leave

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) have been asked to vacate Egbema West community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State due to alleged pollution of the area by their operations. The people of the community said the operations of the firms had resulted in the death of more than 40 persons in the community. Speaking through the Chairman of its Community Relations Committee, Mr. Steve Aliba, the community said since Shell resumed operations in the area in 1961, it had not contributed to the growth and development of the area. He said the community resolved that the oil company and NPDC should pay N200 billion as compensation for damages and pollutions traced to their operations.

Ex-Militant Alleges Arms in N’Delta

Former spokesman for the defunct Niger Delta Liberation Force, ‘Capt.’ Mark Anthony, on Sunday claimed there were many weapons in Niger Delta, despite the mopping up of arms in the region. The ex-militant also maintained that unless the Federal Government goes beyond the current “tokenism’’ and begin a serious development of the area, militancy would return. Anthony said the issues that gave rise to militancy in the area were still existing, and that the plight of the communities in the creeks had worsened. According to him, unless the government begins a conscious implementation of a development plan for Niger Delta, there will be no lasting peace.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

3 Girls Kidnapped in Warri

Three young girls were taken away after gunmen ordered their mother and another lady in the vehicle to run away for their lives. The victims are children of a contractor with Chevron Oil Company in Warri. Meanwhile, security operatives are on the trail of the hoodlums to get their victims released. But nemesis caught up with a group of hoodlums, penultimate Sunday, at Ekpan, Delta State following an aborted move to snatch a car from its owner. But in a contrary incident, three girls were kidnapped in the same area. Investigation revealed that the victim, a young lady was attacked by a group of armed youths, who forcefully entered her car at gunpoint. According to her, as they drove along, the hoodlums noticed that an Army vehicle was trailing them and they decided to veer off the road. This caused the two back tyres to puncture and they subsequently escaped.

EFCC Arraigns Bank Managers for N500m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two former managers of United Bank for Africa Plc before a High Court of Delta State sitting in Warri.  The accused persons are Aigbe Akhidenor and Onajite Enaworu. They were arraigned before Justice Clara Achilefu on a 71 count charge of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretense, stealing and conspiracy to steal.  Upon arraignment, they pleaded not guilty to the charges. Counsel to EFCC, G. K. Latona then asked the court to remand the accused in prison custody and fix a date for trial.

Commissioner’s Wife Kidnapped

The wife of the Delta State Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, was on Thursday kidnapped in Abraka, Ethiope East LGA. Muoboghare said that he was alerted of the abduction through a family member who immediately placed a call just when the incident happened at about 7.30 am. The distraught Commissioner disclosed that witnesses explained that the armed band of kidnappers stormed his house right inside the campus of the state owned Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU) just as his wife who works in the institution was getting set to go to work, and took her away.

Kerosene Explosion Claims 11 in Edo, Delta

There are indications that no fewer than 11 persons have so far lost their lives to kerosene explosion which took place in Edo and Delta States since the beginning of the month of March. Dr. Eddy Ehikhamelor, founder/coordinator of Save Accident Victims Association of Nigeria (SAVAN), said the incident happened at Ologbo, Ewatto; Ewosa borders communities between Edo state and Delta state respectively, adding that the explosions occurred when the victims were putting kerosene into lit lamps and stoves. The SAVAN coordinator however called on relevant agencies in the management of petroleum products distribution to set up explosion emergency call centres to call whenever there are incidents of such explosions.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

NDLEA Impounds Illicit Drugs in Oyo

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has impounded 262 kilogrammes of dried weed suspected to be cannabis sativa valued at N1.25million, in Ibadan, Oyo state. The NDLEA Commander, Mr Sulaiman Jadi, said that three suspects, including 21 year-old Togolese, were arrested in connection with the substance. Parading the suspects with the substance, Jadi explained that the Togolese stuffed the weeds in second-hand clothes in five big sacks and sprayed detergent on them to conceal the odour. According to him, the destination of Paul was far away in Sokoto, where he was to meet his business associate, Bello Ibrahim, who hailed from Igala.

Thugs Assault Ex-deputy Speaker

Suspected political thugs allegedly sponsored by former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, penultimate Friday, in Ado-Ekiti unleashed terror on a former deputy speaker of the State House of Assembly, Taiwo Olatubosun, beating him to a coma at the secretariat of the party in Ajilosun, Ado-Akure road. It was gathered that the hoodlums, allegedly descended on Olatubosun, when he went to the secretariat to lodge a personal complaint about some changes in the list to be used for the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) local government congress in Ekiti State. However, while denying attacking the former deputy speaker, Fayose said his return to the party had made some chieftains of the PDP to be uncomfortable.

GENERAL

Women Protest Against over Boko Haram

Some women Friday took to the streets in parts of Maiduguri, Borno State to ask for a halt to the mayhem visited on the town by the extremist Boko Haram sect. The women under the aegis of concerned mothers of Borno said something should be urgently done to stop the wanton killings and destruction of public properties in the state. The women comprising both Muslims and Christians widows and other concerned women, amidst tears, appealed to members of the Boko Haram to sheathe their swords and embraced peace. Hajia Hawau Biu, one of the conveners of the meeting, who is also a widow, appealed to the state government to provide jobs opportunities for the teeming youths. Also speaking a human right activist, Barrister Aisha Alkali Wakil called on members of Boko Haram, which she addresses as their sons to come out and dialogue with the government.

120 Nigerians Deported from UK

The United Kingdom, penultimate Friday, deported about 120 Nigerians over allegation of immigration related offences. The deportees arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International airport, Lagos. The deportees who were mainly young men and women narrated their individual experiences but collectively rued the manner they were forced out of their homes, without giving them time to prepare for the journey back to Nigeria. To show their rage, they launched tirades at the federal government which they accused of failing to show sufficient care for its citizens.

DIG, Three Others Killed In Police Helicopter Crash

A Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), John Haruna, and three others were killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday in Jos, Plateau state. Haruna, the DIG in charge of Operations, who was aboard a police surveillance helicopter when it crashed, was only recently promoted to the rank of DIG. The other three victims were identified as ACP Garba Yalwa – Pilot; CSP Alexander Pwol-Ja, co-pilot, and Sgt Sonatian Shirunam, Orderly to Haruna. The Force spokesman, Olusola Amore, said that burial arrangements would be announced after due consultations with their families.

FG Uncovers 1,497 Illegal Routes into Nigeria

The Federal Government said it has identified 1,497 illegal routes used by illegal immigrants into the country. Hence to fight trans-border crimes and reduced porosity in the nation borders, Federal Government would build 84 border plazas within Nigerian territories. The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, stated that these plazas, when approved, would be built on Nigerian territories and not on the land of the country sharing the border.  The Interior Minister also noted that just like Nigerians, the government was concerned on allegations that most members of the Boko Haram were foreigners who accessed Nigeria through its porous borders and hence its decisions.

Soldiers Intercept Explosives Laden Car in Bauchi

A car laden with explosive devices, heading to Bauchi from Gombe, was on Wednesday, intercepted by soldiers at a checkpoint near Alkaleri town. The information officer of Alkaleri LGA, Mu’azu Haruna Juji, disclosed that the two occupants of the car ran inside the bush and abandoned the car as the soldiers were interrogating them at the checkpoint. When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi command, ASP Hassan Mohammed said they received the information.

EFCC Arraigns Kogi Officials for Fraud

Former Chairman of Bassa Local Council of Kogi State, Musa Gwatana, and three others are on trial before the Kogi State High Court, Idah for criminal breach of trust and N162 million fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which arraigned them on a four-count charge, said they conspired to divert the council’s money for personal use. The commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren, said the alleged offences were reportedly committed between September and December 2008 in Bassa, where they purportedly connived to obtain N160 million from one of the branches of a new generation bank in Lokoja on behalf of the council and diverted the loan into personal use. The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them. The court thereafter granted them bail in the sum of N5 million each with a surety in like sum.

Kano: 2 Found Dead in Car

Residents of Kundila quarters of Tarauni LGA of Kano state woke up on Wednesday morning to find the corpses of two young persons, a male and a female, dead inside a 406 Peugeot car. It was discovered that they was no sign of violence or struggle on the corpses. According to the Police spokesman, Magaji Musa Majiya, the police moved to the scene and carried the two corpses to the hospital. Majiya further stated that they used the phone of the male who incidentally was the one driving the car to contact his brother, Lawan Ahmad, who identified him as Abubakar Ahmad.

Reps Reject Return of Police Checkpoints

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, threw out a motion seeking to restore the recently abolished police check points across the nation’s highways. The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had last month, announced total dismantling of all police road blocks on the nation’s highways and intra-state roads. However, worried by what they considered as unbearable consequences of this action, Hon. Friday Itulah with 15 other members, brought a motion to the floor of the House, demanding that the law-makers urge the Acting IGP to restore the check points. They also sought the lower Chamber to mandate the House Committee on Police Affairs to interface with the Police authorities to initiate a more sustainable security strategy to check crime on highways and report to the House within four weeks.

Robbers Attack Commercial Bus, Rape 18 Women

Eighteen women aboard a commuter luxury bus were reportedly raped in the wee hours of Thursday by armed bandits in Okene, Kogi State. One of the victims said the journey had been smooth from Port Harcourt till a short distance from Okene, when they ran into an ambush laid by the robbers, who also dispossessed them of valuables and money. But Kogi State police spokesman, Okasanmi Ajayi, however, said the incident was not officially reported at the command.

Minister Charges Civil Servants to be Security Conscious

As the Federal Government battles to address the current spate of insecurity in the country, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, has stressed the need for civil servants to be security-conscious. He disclosed that a security verification system had been put in place at the ministry to ensure the safety of the staff. The minister stated this during an interactive session with the staff of the ministry. Senator Idris urged the staff to cooperate with the security men in enforcing the various security measures already put in place at the ministry.

Force of Arms Inadequate to Stem Terror —NSA

The National Security Adviser (NSA), General Owoye Andrew Azazi has said that for Nigeria to effectively stem the rising insecurity situation in the country security agencies must go beyond using force of arms and begin urgently to tinker with orthodox technologies. He said that the veritable tool, known the world over, to achieve a terror-free society is the effective use of information and communications technologies, adding that mere use of force has never succeeded against terrorism anywhere.

9 Killed as Suicide Bombers Hit another Church in Jos

At least nine persons, including two suspected suicide bombers, were killed at St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church, Jos, in another bomb attack, penultimate Sunday. President Goodluck Jonathan promptly condemned the bombing, asking Nigerians not to despair over fresh attacks in spite of the gains made against the group and assured all that government was winning the war on terror.  An eye witness, Emmanuel Audu, said at least 15 others were injured and were rushed to the Air Force Military Hospital, Plateau Specialist Hospital and the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). About 15 cars were also damaged. But the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said only three persons died in the attack.

Boko Haram Denies Killing Europeans
• JTF Arrests Three Suspects, Recovers Rifles, Ammunitions, Bomb-Making Materials

Boko Haram Islamist sect has denied complicity in the killing of two foreign hostages—Chris McManus, a Briton and Franco Lamolinara, an Italian. Spokesman for the sect said that Boko Haram was not responsible for the penultimate Thursday killing of the foreigners in Sokoto. Meanwhile, three suspected Boko Haram members were, on Monday, arrested by the Joint Task Force (JTF), which also recovered eight Kalashnikov rifles and bomb-making materials in Dala ward of Maiduguri metropolis of Borno State. Spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col Hassan Mohammed, said bomb-making materials were also recovered from the suspects after an operations carried out by the soldiers.

11 Killed as Tiv, Herdsmen Clash

Eleven people have been reportedly killed, last weekend, in a clash between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen in Nassarawa State. The crisis, which allegedly started in April last year, assumed a worrisome dimension when armed Fulani youth purportedly shot some Tiv and Ogoja traders in a market. In the ensuing violence, 11 persons were feared killed. It was learnt that about 5,000 residents fled the community for safer areas in nearby towns in Benue State.

Three Killed in Kano, Jos

Gunmen killed three Christians at Chugwi village, in Plateau State same day even as 11 bodies were recovered from the penultimate Sunday’s blast at the St Finbar’s church.  In another incident, Boko Haram, on Monday attacked a police station in Kano, injuring two officers on duty, while a sect member was disarmed and killed by policemen. IN another incident, Boko Haram members took away a former member of the group, identified as Mallam Isah. Isah, a dry cleaner, who resides in Kaduna, fled from the sect in Maiduguri and relocated to Kaduna about six months ago, for fear of being killed. As Isah was being taken away, he allegedly called for help, but no one dared to come to his aid.

Teacher Jailed 2 Years for Fraud

A teacher in Adamawa State, Mr. Japhet Dadiye, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment without an option of fine by the state High Court in Yola for defrauding a bank of N3.8 million. Dadiye, who will also pay N10000 to the court, was a former Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Lamurde Local Council of the state. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) began his prosecution in June 2011. The commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren, said that Dadiye was convicted for diverting and converting to personal use the sum of N3, 848,678, being part of a loan obtained by the NUT for the purpose of cooperative and welfare needs of the union.

EFCC Pays Benefits to Families of Dead Officers

About N34.4m terminal benefits was on Monday in Abuja paid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to families of four of its former officials, who died in service.
The recipients are Matthew Al-Hassan, Daniel Nandir, Sunday Owai and Enoma Orishemola. The Chairman of the commission, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, who handed over the cheques to the relations of the departed officers, expressed his deep sadness over their death, assuring them that the EFCC would continue to do its best to ensure that they did not die in vain.

Five Killed in JTF, Boko Haram Clash

Reign of terror continued in the northern part of the country on Monday night as suspected Boko Haram gunmen attacked a military patrol vehicle in Mubi town of Adamawa State, killing a soldier, a policeman and 3 civilians. The Adamawa State Police spokesman, Altine Daniel, confirmed the attack, adding that 3 soldiers sustained gunshot wounds while the gunmen were being repelled from the attacks that lasted for about half an hour. According to the police spokesperson, the ambushing of the military patrol vehicle was triggered by the arrest of six suspected Boko Haram gunmen, penultimate Sunday. Multiple explosions were also heard in different parts of Mubi, but the police spokesperson said “no casualty was recorded as a result of the blast, and no arrest was made by the police over the attacks and bomb blasts.”

Soldiers Ambushed in Kano

A gang of armed men suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect on Tuesday ambushed members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) at the Gorondutse area of the Kano metropolis. Two policemen were killed while a soldier was injured in the attack. However, the JTF fought back and killed one of the gunmen. Army Spokesman, Lt. Ikedichi Iweha, confirmed the attack and casualties. Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika, has assured on the preparedness of the Army to wage the war against terror, stating that 2,000 soldiers were being trained in Jaji and Kachia on counter-terrorism operations in order to meet current security challenges in the country.

Police Test New Camouflage Uniform

The Force Public Relations Officer, Olusola Amore, said the President had approved the “test-run of a camouflage dress for the Nigeria Police Force as one of its operational attires.” The acting IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, said the new dress is in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government and the long desire of the Police Management Team to reform and launder an acceptable image for the Service through the turn-out of its officers and men. The camouflage, which is an admixture of black, white and ash colours, will serve as an operational dress for the police with some inherent advantages when fully integrated and confirmed as one of the official police uniforms. The advantages of the new police camouflage, he said, are cost-effectiveness and durability. It is customised with security features to check impersonation and environmentally-friendly.

Retired Soldier, Others Killed in Attack by Fulani Herdsmen

Suspected Fulani herdsmen struck again and killed a retired soldier and seven others at Tse Yaji village in Lafia, Nassarawa State. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Cornelius Ocholi, confirmed the attack and the casualties. It was revealed that when the villagers learnt that an attack was imminent, they reported to the police, but their fear was allegedly dismissed. It was further learnt that during the attack, the police at Kadarko Divisional Police Station were again disappointed. But the PPRO denied the information was not true.

6 Killed by Gunmen in Adamawa

A police inspector, a soldier and four other persons were killed in a Monday night attack by unidentified gunmen in Mubi, Adamawa State. The attack was followed by multiple explosions and sporadic gunfire. Spokesman of the JTF, Lieutenant Ike Dichi Iweha, confirmed the attack saying two police men were killed, one soldier injured, while one of the suspected Boko Haram members was shot dead during the confrontation. Kano police confirmed in a statement that a senior police officer, who was trailed to his private residence at Karkasara in Kano on Monday, succeeded in gunning down a gunman suspected to be a member of the Boko Haram sect.

Unlawful Detention: Court Awards N8m Damages against Police

An Abuja High Court has awarded N8 million damages against the Nigeria Police over the unlawful detention of three Bmuko village indigenes in the FCT. Hassan Shakpala, son of the late Head of Bmuko People; council members Samuel Shuaibu, Yohanna Ihima and John Auta had instituted the legal action following their arrest and detention by the Dutse Police Station. The detention, wherein Shakpala was held till this year was as a result of a report by Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Peter Yohanna Ushafa and his nominee, Ibrahim Yahaha Dangana, over the headship tussle in the community in April 2011. Justice Y. Halilu held that the action of the police in holding the accused persons for over five days was unconstitutional.

Ghana Arrests Nigerian Oil Tanker with Stolen Crude

The Ghanaian authorities have arrested an oil tanker- MV Madina, allegedly conveying stolen crude oil from Nigeria, the Ghana Navy has said. MV Madina was detained on Thursday at the Salt Pond Offshore Producing Company Limited (SPOCL), as it attempted to discharge hijacked crude oil from Nigeria into another vessel at the SPOCL. The Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel M’Bawine Atintande, disclosed that guards have been deplored to secure the vessels at the oil fields. MV Madina was hijacked while the vessel was in the process of lifting crude oil from a marginal oil producing field in Nigeria into a larger vessel, MV North Wind Grace. The captain and his crew absconded with the vessel. Consequently, the owners of the vessel alerted the Benin and Ghana security and subsequently traced the ship to Ghana.

Gunmen Kill District Head in Gombe

The District Head of Kagarawal in Gombe State, Alhaji Bello Ali Kagarawal, was on Friday night shot dead by yet to be identified gunmen in front of his house in Kagarawal, a suburb of Gombe. A witness, Muhammadu Yahaya Kagarawal, disclosed that the late district head was sitting on a mat with two people when two gunmen approached them and asked for the district head. Muhammadu said the gunman then fired a shot at the district head and dragged him to the entrance of the mosque in front of his house, where he was killed.  The incident is causing tension as the district head is the first person to be killed in such circumstances in that area. The Gombe State Police Public Relation Officer, Ahmed Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, said police have commenced investigation.

INTERNATIONAL

Afghan Lawmakers Demand Trial of US Soldier

Afghan lawmakers have demanded that a US soldier who went on a shooting spree and killed 16 villagers in their homes should be put on public trial. They demanded that the government of the United States punish the culprits and try them in a public trial before the people of Afghanistan. US President, Barack Obama, telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai to promise a speedy investigation into the killings, which fanned already smouldering anger among Afghans over the burning of Korans at a US military base last month. The US soldier walked off his base, heavily armed and with night vision equipment, and broke into three village homes before dawn, penultimate Sunday, killing 16 people including women and children. The Taliban has threatened revenge attacks after the attack by the American soldier.

19 Rescued after Ship Runs Aground

An Italian cargo ship ran aground in rough weather off Sicily on Saturday, the coastguard said, adding that the 19 crew were taken off by helicopter and were safe amid worsening conditions. The Gelso M was driven on to rocks as it was planning to approach the port of Syracuse and began taking on water before the captain gave the order to abandon ship, according to the coastguard spokesman, Cosimo Nicastro. The ship, a tanker, was carrying no cargo at the time of the incident, and its double hull meant there was a low risk of pollution. Rome-based ship owner, Augusta Due said the cargo ship ran aground "because of a force 10 storm in the early morning", adding that "an engine had problems because of the ship's movements during the storm".

Assad Rebuffs Annan as Troops Attack Idlib

Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, has told UN/Arab League envoy, Kofi Annan, that no political solution was possible in Syria while "terrorist" groups were destabilizing the country ". There was no immediate comment from Annan, who was visiting Syria on a mission aimed at halting bloodshed since a popular uprising erupted a year ago. Meanwhile, Syrian troops continued their assault in the northwestern city of Idlib, a rebel bastion. Sixteen rebel fighters, seven soldiers and four civilians were killed in the Idlib fighting, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which said 15 other people, including three soldiers, had been killed in violence elsewhere. The UN estimates that Syrian security forces have killed well over 7,500 people. Syria said in December that "terrorists" had killed more than 2,000 soldiers and police.

Israeli Air Strikes Kill 3 Palestinians

Israeli air strikes on Sunday killed three Palestinians, including a 12-year-old boy, Gaza medics said, as militants fired rockets into Israel for a third day. Gaza's Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Egypt was working to stop the violence and was consulting with militant factions but added that Israel would have to first stop its air strikes. Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, predicted in a statement that it would take several more days until the violence ended and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would hit hard at militants who launch rockets at its towns. An Israeli military spokesman said the army was looking into reports of the boy's death.

US Airstrikes Kill 64 Militants in Yemen

U.S. airstrikes targeted militant hideouts and arms caches in separate attacks over three days in Yemen, killing at least 64 suspected al Qaeda insurgents before the strikes ended Sunday. The strike involved at least five U.S. drones and took place in the Jabal Khanfar region of Jaar, located in southern Abyan province, two senior Yemeni security officials said. Officials at U.S. Central Command and the Defense Department rarely discuss the drone program. A member of the military committee, Yemen's highest security authority, confirmed that strike, and said the Yemeni government was given no advance warning of it. The strike was the third such attack on suspected al Qaeda targets in less than three days, according to Yemeni officials. The United States was also involved in two other major attacks on Friday and Saturday, which killed at least 58 suspected al Qaeda insurgents, two senior Yemeni defense ministry officials said.

Somalia Islamists Ambush Ethiopian Troops

Islamist militant group, al-Shabab, has ambushed an Ethiopian base in Somalia, with several casualties, according to reports. They attacked the base, near Yurkut village in the central region of Geddo, from two directions at dawn. Al-Shabab claimed to have killed 73 Ethiopians, while the Somali government said it in turn killed 48 members of the militant group. The fighting lasted for more than three hours between the border with Ethiopia and Baidoa; a town Ethiopian that forces took last month from al-Shabab rebels. It came hours after the African Union announced the troops would be withdrawn from Baidoa and Beledweyne, another town the Ethiopians took, by the end of April.

Thousands of Abducted Women, Children Released in One Year

China's Ministry of Public Security busted a cross-province human trafficking network, and rescued 77 children. This adds to the 24,000 abducted women and children authorities say were set free last year. Police arrested 310 suspects from four gangs, two of which are family-run businesses. Chen Qingwei, a police officer who helped crack down an infant trafficking case in Shandong, said couples who sell their babies mainly come from poverty-stricken areas. A boy could fetch a price as high as 50,000 yuan ($7905)," said Chen, "with the price for girls at about 30,000 yuan ($4743). According to the Ministry of Public Security report, the Chinese government halted 10,680 abduction cases of women and children, while busting 3,195 trafficking gangs last year.

31 Killed, Scores Missing in as Ferry Sinks in Bangladesh

About 31 people have reportedly died and scores more are feared missing after a ferry with some 200 people aboard sunk in a southern Bangladeshi river. The police said about 35 people were rescued after the accident in the Meghna River. Ferry accidents are common on Bangladesh’s vast river network and scores are killed every year. Police said that more bodies are feared trapped inside the vessel, which passengers said sunk rapidly after the collision with an oil tanker. The ferry was reportedly travelling to Dhaka from the Shariatpur district. Some of the rescued passengers said that it was overcrowded.

Ex-Guatemalan Soldier Sentenced to 6000 Years Jail Term

A Guatemalan court convicted a former soldier for his role in a 1982 massacre and sentenced him to more than 6,000 years in prison. Pedro Pimentel Rios is the fifth former soldier convicted of atrocities for the killing of 250 people in the village of Dos Erres during the country's civil war. Pimentel was extradited from the United States to Guatemala in July 2011. He was sentenced to 30 years each for 201 of the Dos Erres killings and another 30 on a charge of crimes against humanity. The former soldier told family members of the victims in court that he was shocked by what happened, but denied involvement in the massacre.

3 Pakistani Police Officers Guilty of Sex Exploitation of 14-Year-Old

Three Pakistani police officers were found guilty of sexual exploitation and abuse of a 14-year-old Haitian boy while they were serving in a U.N. police mission in Haiti, a UN spokesman disclosed on Tuesday. The three were found guilty in a court-martial proceeding conducted by Pakistani authorities in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, said the spokesman, Martin Nesirky. Pakistani authorities alerted Haitian officials to the outcome of the military procedure this month. Each is to serve a year in jail. The three were in a Pakistani-formed police unit serving in Gonaives, Haiti, as part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake there in January 2010.

4 Dead, 4 Missing after Fishing Boat Sinks

Four people have died and four others remain missing from a fishing boat that sunk near the southern tip of New Zealand after being hit by a "rogue wave," the police said Friday. Rescuers found one survivor on Thursday from among the nine people who were on board Easy Rider, the 40-foot fishing vessel that sunk in the seas off sparsely populated Stewart Island, which is about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the New Zealand mainland. The survivor told the police that Easy Rider had capsized after being struck by a "rogue wave," Todd said.

Norwegian Military Plane Goes Missing on Air

Search crews were looking for a Norwegian military aircraft that went missing over Swedish mountains Thursday, officials said. The Hercules airplane from the Norwegian Air Force was taking part in a military exercise when it lost radio contact with authorities, said Per Froberg, a spokesman for Sweden's air navigation services. There were five people on board, according to Jonas Sundin, head of the air rescue operations in Gothenburg, Sweden. The plane was en route to Kiruna to pick up equipment and personnel when authorities lost contact with it, said Marianne Oiahals, a spokeswoman for the Norwegian Armed Forces.

2 Turkish Journalists Missing in Syria

Two Turkish journalists are reported missing in Syria since last weekend. Adem Ozkose, a columnist and war reporter for Milat and the Middle East correspondent for Gercek Hayat magazine, was working for both publications in Syria, according to reports. The two, who went to Syria about 11 days ago, notified the paper on Saturday they had arrived in Idlib in northern Syria, the paper said. Syrian rebel stronghold of Idlib seized Turkey's Foreign Ministry said it immediately instructed its offices to contact Syrian authorities "to formally ask about the whereabouts or any kind of information they might have about these two journalists," spokesman Selcuk Unal said.

Helicopter Crash Kills 12 in Kabul

A NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) helicopter crashed on Friday in Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul, killing 12 people, ISAF said. ISAF confirmed the helicopter "went down" but said the cause of the accident was unknown. Capt. David Yaryar, an ISAF spokesman did not immediately identify the nationality of those killed in the crash, though the Kabul police chief said earlier that five bodies pulled from the wreckage and they were identified as Turkish citizens. Afghan police and fire crews were on the scene of the crash in Kabul's eastern district of Bagrami.