Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 6

PORT HARCOURTAND ENVIRONS

Multiple Kidnaps in Port Harcourt

Three persons: Wife of former Petroleum Minister, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, Gladys, a member of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr. Egare Igoni, and an Agip Oil Nigeria staff, Charles James, were kidnapped at different locations in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. According to the source, Gladys’s abductors demanded the pull-out of Joint Military Task Force (JTF) from Nembe before she would be freed. The kidnap incidents were confirmed by JTF Spokesman, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, and Police Public Relations officer, Mrs Rita Abbey. Gladys regained freedom on Friday, just as the 9-year-old son of a Shell staff kidnapped recently also regained his freedom.

Gunmen Attack Addax Oil Facility

Unidentified gunmen, Thursday, attacked an oil service vessel in a deep sea oilfield operated by Addax Petroleum in Eket, Akwa Ibom. The captain of the vessel was allegedly shot, while several crew members were injured.

Military Officers to Face Court Martial over Militants' Attack

All military personnel on duty, at ALSCON Township in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom state on December 20, 2008 are to be court-martialled for their failure to repel militant attacks on the said date. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Abdulraman Dambazau, gave the order on Thursday in Uyo as he expressed dismay at the inability of the armed military personnel to counter the attack and the kidnapping of ALSCON workers by the militants.

Oil Firms Spend $3.7bn on Security in N’Delta

Oil companies in the country jointly spent an estimated $3.7 billion on the security against attacks by militants and other criminals in the Niger Delta in 2008, investigation has revealed. Oil companies now insist on heavy military presence to carry out their operations, while oil and gas workers are resigning their appointments to avoid persistent militant attacks. But stakeholders posit that if the money being set aside for security is invested in infrastructure, it will reduce militancy and criminality in the region.

FrancePledges Assistance on Security

France has declared its readiness to work with the Federal Government to check the insecurity in the Niger Delta. French Ambassador to Nigeria Jean-Michel Dumond said his country was set to activate the military assistance provision in the Memorandum of Understanding reached recently between the two countries. Dumond said that France’s Special Forces have the skills to maneuver the mangrove areas. Meanwhile, Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has alerted the Federal Government to the proliferation of arms between Ikang in Cross River State and Bakassi in Cameroun.

Oil Firms Fight Back Over Niger Delta's Development

Open confrontations recently trailed the quest to fast-track the development of the impoverished oil communities, as the oil firms accuse government of shifting its constitutional developmental responsibilities to them. Specifically, the oil majors said it is worrisome that the government of Nigeria could hinge the development of a region within its geographical boundary on a mere Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) of companies rather than for it to gear up and seek the welfare of its citizens through its earnings and outstanding policies.

JTF Warns Ateke Tom’s Group over Ultimatum to Oil Firms

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Wednesday, warned militant leader Ateke Tom’s Niger Delta Patriotic Force (NDPF) of deadly repercussions if it made good its threat to attack oil companies.  JTF, in its reaction to Tuesday’s threat by the militant group, assured oil companies and law-abiding citizens that there is "no cause for security alarm", adding that its troops are ready to repel any attack. The NDPF gave oil multinationals until February 14 to leave the region or face massacre. The group accused the oil firms, including Shell, Intel, NLNG, Agip, and ALSCON of aiding and abetting the military, particularly the JTF, to carry out attacks on its camps.

2 Gang Leaders Shot Dead in Rivers

Tension forced its way back to Okrika in Rivers State on Sunday night as two local cult leaders were shot dead in separate attacks within and outside the community. One of the deceased, Sunday Opuambe, the bearded vocal leader of the Bush Boys gang, otherwise known as the Peacemakers, was gunned down at a drinking spot on Abuloma Road near Port Harcourt when a number of gunmen trailed him to the relaxation spot and rained bullets on him. Earlier same day, the Head of the Greenlanders, another local cult group in the community, simply identified as Theoplilus, was shot by unknown gunmen. No group had claimed responsibility for the attacks as at press time. However, there was speculation that a rival cult group was responsible for the killings. Police spokesperson in the state, Mrs Rita Inoma-Abbey (DSP), confirmed Opuambe‘s death.

Head of LG Legislature Kidnapped

The Leader of Obio/Akpor Council legislature, Mr Ahamefula Amadi, was abducted by yet to be identified gunmen along Rumuokrushi/Shell Road near Port Harcourt. The gunmen were said to have forced the legislator into the boot of their car and sped off. Police spokesperson in the state, Mrs Rita Inoma-Abbey (DSP), confirmed the abduction of the council lawmaker.

Kidnappings: Oil, Gas Exports under Threat as PENGASSAN Issues Ultimatum

Nigeria’s troubled economy is at further risk as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Monday said it would embark on an industrial action to shut down crude oil exports from Rivers State. The action is to start from Monday unless the increasing spate of kidnappings in the Niger Delta is addressed, the union said.

Addax Strikes Oil at Njaba Onshore Imo

Another significant landmark has been registered in the Nigerian oil and gas industry by Addax Petroleum, as it announced an onshore oil discovery from the Njaba 2 well (formally Okaka) currently drilling in the eastern part of the OML124 license area of Imo State. Addax Petroleum has a 100 per cent working interest under a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) covering the Oil Mining License 124 (OML124) area, whereby the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is the concessionaire. The new discovery may likely become one of its largest fields in Nigeria.

Police Arrest PDP Chairman for Training Thugs

The Police in Enugu State have arrested the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Nsukka LGA of the state, Chief Oliver Ajibo, for alleged training of hoodlums and illegal possession of arms. He was arrested along with three members of the gang following a petition by the family of one Chinedu Obeta who was abducted and tortured by the hoodlums, penultimate Thursday. It was gathered that men of the Enugu State Criminal Investigation Department who executed a search of Ajibo’s house recovered a pistol, cannabis and syringes during the raid.

NDDC Boss Loses Wife

Mrs Alaere Timi Alaibe, Wife of the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, is dead. The 45-year-old mother of five died at a London hospital where she was receiving treatment for cancer. This was disclosed through a statement issued penultimate Sunday by Ekpein Appa on behalf of the bereaved Alaibe family.

DPR Seals off NNPC Mega Station, Eight Others

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), penultimate weekend, sealed off eight filling stations in Akwa Ibom State for failing to comply with the N65 pump price for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol. The Federal Government had announced the reduction in the price of petrol from N70 to N65 a fortnight ago. Most filling stations in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, deliberately refused to comply with the new price regime.

Rights Group Condemn Police Harassment of Citizens

Human Rights Writers' Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Sunday, raised alarm at the rate that residents of Imo State are subjected to harassment by security operatives especially the police. The organisation also upbraided the police in the State for the recent arrest and detention of an Owerri-based media activist, Maximus Uba, over his alleged affiliations with the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) governorship candidate in Imo State in the controversial 2007 polls. The group consequently called on the Federal Government to probe the alleged breach of the fundamental human rights of Imo State citizens committed by police operatives.

SS3 Student Hangs Self

A Senior Secondary School student of Mbube East Secondary School at Ogoja, Cross River state, Queen Mary Ndom, 18, allegedly hanged herself on a tree, at the backyard of her father’s compound. Her body, according to her father, Egana Ndom, was not discovered until the following day, Saturday, 24 January, when her sister went to the backyard and saw Queen hanging on a tree. The Police Public Relations Officer for the Cross River State Police Command, ASP Thomas Adsama Okpene, said the report was yet to reach him, but sources said the body had been deposited at the General Hospital, Ogoja, for autopsy.

Police Arrest Abia Monarchs over Alleged Murder Attempt

Abia State Police Commissioner, Mr. Edgar Tam Nanakumo, announced on Tuesday in Umuahia that two traditional rulers in the state have been arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting crimes and attempted murder of three policemen. The CP alleged that many traditional rulers issued unlicensed guns to vigilance group members in their domains, Nanakumo vowed to check the development. The police chief said one of the monarchs and three others were arrested for allegedly conniving with others at large to beat up three policemen sent to their area to investigate a matter. The assailants also attempted to set the three policemen ablaze after inflicting several cutlass cuts on them.

Helmets: Two Motorcyclists Die Evading Arrest by FRSC

Two commercial bike operators in Owerri, Imo state, have reportedly lost their lives when they got involved in accidents as they attempted to escape being arrested by officials of the Federal Road safety Commission (FRSC) over the non-usage of crash helmets. The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Imo State, CMDR Angus Obum Ibezim said that the accident was caused by over speeding, reckless driving and overloading.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Gunmen kill Girl, 29, in Delta

Unknown gunmen at the weekend killed a 29-year-old lady in Agbor, Ika South LGA of Delta State.  A source said the victim was accosted by two young men on a motorcycle.  The hoodlums ordered her to hand over her mobile telephone, which she did but resisted an order to get on the motorcycle, prompting her being shot in the lower abdomen.  The gunshot, it was learnt, caused pandemonium as residents scampered for safety.  Police spokesman Charles Muka confirmed the incidents, saying the police were on top of the situation.

18 Babies Escape Death in UBTH Inferno

Eighteen babies under intensive care at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), escaped death, when the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of the Hospital was gutted by fire Wednesday night. According to the Acting Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Michael Ibadin, the fire outbreak, attributed to power surge, completely razed the entire unit, including the adjourning labour wards. It took combined efforts of staff, some medical students and men of UBTH Fire Service Unit to put out the fire and rescue the babies.

Oil Spill: Communities Protest

Seven oil-rich Ijaw communities in Warri South-West LGA of Delta State, which claimed that they were impacted by the August 17, 2008 oil spillage by the Chevron –Texaco Nigeria Limited have petitioned the Director General of the National Oil Spillage Detective and Response Agency (NOSDRA), alleging that they were excluded by the company in the payment of compensation for the spillage.  The zonal office has carried out delineation of the impacted area as to compare with the Map produced by the communities.

Edo Community Alleges Neglect over Gas Leakage

The Ughoton community of Ovia South-East Local Council of Edo State, on Wednesday complained of being abandoned by the government after a gas leakage occurred at a well operated by an indigenous oil company, Dubri Oil, three weeks ago. They said the incident had forced the community's 2,000 residents to relocate to camps at the outskirt of the village. The villagers now cook in neighbouring communities because they fear a fire could break out if they attempt to do any cooking in their gas-laden community.

Delta to Generate 350MW of Power

The Delta State Government said it was concluding plans to generate 350 Mega Watts of power for sustainable electricity supply in the state and beyond. Speaking on the plans on Wednesday, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan explained that the 350MW would be generated in two phases, first with 150MW in the short-term and devoted mainly for the state and the balance of 250MW in the long term.

LAGOSAND ENVIRONS

Customs Intercepts Truck Loaded with Arms

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Monday, impounded 190 magnum automatic pump action riffles hidden in a truck along Ijebu-Ode/ Benin Express-way. Displaying the arms in Lagos, an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Yinusa Saka, said that explained that the driver told the customs’ team that he had spare parts in the vehicle but upon examination, the action riffles were found. All four persons in the truck were immediately arrested.

Police Rescue Boy Kidnapped in Church, Arrest 2

Police operatives in Lagos have rescued a nursery school pupil kidnapped in the church. Police operatives from the Security and Criminal Intelligence Bureau (SCIB); have also nabbed two out of the four suspected kidnappers, who held the kid, identified as Ebuka, hostage for five days. The suspects, John Akinsola and Segun Akamo, were said to have owned up to the alleged crime.

Explosion Destroys 29 Vehicles

An explosion, Wednesday night, rocked the entire Aruya Buna Street in Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos, destroying 29 vehicles which were under repairs in a mechanic workshop and property which monetary value is yet to be estimated. It was gathered that it erupted from a yet-to-be ascertained combustible chemical in the workshop after the mechanics had closed for the day. Effort by some of those who had their vehicles in the workshop to salvage them to safer places failed, as the fire had spread to every part of the workshop before their arrival

Police Arrest Fake Soldier

Samuel Patrick, 28, from Akwa Ibom State has been arrested by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos for impersonation.
Until his arrest, Samuel, who said he was an apprentice meat seller with Alhaji Isiaka at Ojo Alaba, also posed as a soldier. Items recovered from him include a fake military identification card, military beret with insignia of a lance corporal, military uniforms and a toy gun. Samuel is being held at the SCID, Panti, while investigations are still on.

Obalende Residents Seek Assistance on Flood, Security

Residents of Obalende community, Lagos State, have called on Governor Babatunde Fashola, to take immediate steps to control flood in the area. The residents attribute the recurring flood to illegal dumping of refuse on canals and erection of buildings and shops on drainages. They also appealed to the governor to rid the area of crime and make life bearable for them.

Pastor’s Wife Arrested for Kidnapping

A mother of five and wife of a pastor, Mrs. Folake Owoseni, was arrested by officials of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Iju branch, penultimate weekend, for an alleged attempt to kidnap a boy.According to Mrs. Adeola James, the mother of victim, Ayomide, the suspect came into the house inquiring about a teacher but suddenly grabbed her child and attempted to run away, but shouted and stopped her, while my landlord was alerted. Pastor Owoseni, the husband of the suspect, said that his wife is sick and receiving treatment at Yaba Psychiatric Hospital as he pleaded on her behalf. As the matter lingered, policemen from Oko-Oba police station intervened and took the woman away.

Robbers Kill Man, Snatch N1.6m

The chairman of the Oredegbe Cooperative Society Mpape, Ayodele Sanusi, was shot dead by suspected armed robbers on Sunday evening. The robbers were said to have visited his residence and took away over 1.6 million naira from the late Ayodele before shooting him, when they suspected that he was trying to escape and raise an alarm.

Police Smash Robbery Gang

A gang of armed robbers who have been terrorising residents of Yaba, Lagos, has been smashed by the police.The police arrested the men in the Jibowu axis of the Yaba College of Technology in the early hours when they attempted to rob innocent citizens. One of the robbers, Rafiu Lawal, 19, is from Kwara State. He confirmed that they were actually operating within the axis when they were caught. He added that luck ran out on them when policemen from Sabo station arrested him, while his accomplices escaped. He said on the day they were arrested, they had attempted to rob a man but the man fought back and in the process, security men attacked the gang. While the accomplices escaped with their guns, he was held and handed over to the police who were patrolling the area. The suspect, who is being held at Sabo Police Station, said he was lured into robbery by a friend he identified as Michael.

NDLEA Arrests Man with Cocaine in Hair Cream

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, have arrested a trader during the inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian airline flight from India for being in possession of substances that tested positive for heroin with a weight of 1.827 kilogrammes packed inside hair crème relaxer and sole of sandals in two of his bags. Also, a 66-year-old woman, Tabawa Hussein, has been arrested by officers of NDLEA with over 2.9kg of Indian hemp.

NNPC Loses 6m Litres of Fuel Daily to Vandals

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is losing over six million litres of petroleum products daily in Ibadan and Ilorin depots to vandals.  According to the NNPC Ibadan Depot Manager, Mr. Joseph Akinmolayan, the two depots lose two million litres of fuel every eight hours. He said if the pipeline vandals were not checked, fuel shortage was imminent in Ibadan, Ilorin and other parts of the North. This is just as the police paraded 18 pipeline vandals arrested within the areas.

50 Nabbed For Arson

More than 50 suspects have been arrested by the police in Mushin, Lagos, in connection with the burning of a police vehicle.The vehicle, which belonged to the Ejigbo division, was burnt by an angry mob protesting the alleged killing of a tanker driver at the NNPC junction, near the oil depot. Those arrested were taken to the State CID, Panti, Yaba, for interrogation and later arraigned at the Isolo Magistrate’s Court for rioting and unlawful assembly.

Man Shot Dead for Claiming to be a Policeman

A three-man robbery gang on Sunday night attacked a restaurant at Ososami area in Ibadan, Oyo State, shooting in the process, a banker with a new generation bank in the city. The victim, identified simply as Tunde, was alighting from a bike in front of his house when the robbers accosted him and asked for his identification. When he told them he was a policeman, he was quickly shot at his back. The arrival of real policemen at the scene made the robbers leave the area.

UN, STF Partner on Security in Lagos

The United Nations Habitat, an agency of the UN Human Settlements Programme on Monday partnered with the Lagos State Security Trust Fund to work out strategies on how to tackle the security problems of the state. The leader of the United Nations Habitat team, Mr. Claude Albert Ngomsi, said the partnership was aimed at mapping out crime hot spots in the metropolis and proffer necessary solution to it.

GENERAL

Pre-Shipment Contract: NUPENG, PENGASSAN Extend Strike Notice

National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) have called on the Federal Government to terminate the services of pre-shipment inspectors, Cobalt Nigeria Limited. Both unions are of the opinion that the engagement of the inspectors has resulted to economic loss of $87, 400 daily to the nation. The oil workers have, therefore, extended the 21-day ultimatum which elapsed on January 29, 2009 to February 10, 2004 to enable government fully withdraw the services of Cobalt Nigeria from the terminals.

Britain Unveils N105b Projects for Nigeria

Britain has unfolded a six-year development agenda worth N105 billion for Nigeria. But Britain insists that sustainable development in the economic and political spheres can be realized if Nigerians are more inward-looking. British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bob Dewar, stated that attention to the details in the electoral reforms package expected to be presented as an executive bill to the National Assembly and a genuine implementation of its recommendations for future elections could get Nigeria on the starting block of development again.

2 Armoured Vehicles Must Accompany Bullion Van – Okiro

Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, Monday, ordered banks to provide two armoured vehicles to safeguard the bullion van while on transit, to protect the cash in transit, police officers and bank officials accompanying the cash.  Okiro said the use of bullet and bomb proof bullion vans had compelled bank robbers to devise new strategies of invading banks in broad daylight, and expressed displeasure at bank chiefs lack lustre disposition towards improved security, in the face of renewed assaults by dare-devil armed robbers nationwide.

Police Kill Poly Student In Maiduguri

The police in Maiduguri, Borno State, killed a student of Ramat Polytechnic, Mohammed Nur, Thursday, while quelling a demonstration organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). The protest was against the closure of seven tertiary institutions by the state government over the non-implementation of Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) for the striking teachers. Nur was allegedly killed at a close range when he refused to surrender his placard to the police at the Maiduguri Sharia Court of Appeal building complex.

EFCC Pays N3m to Victim of Illegal Detention

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reiterated its determination to work within the ambit of the law in its fight against all forms of economic crimes and corruption in the country. The assurance was given, Thursday by the Chairman of the Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, as she presented a cheque of N3 million to Dr. Sylvester Odigie, a Lagos-based businessman as damages for his wrongful detention by the Commission between May 24 and July 6, 2006. The presentation of the cheque was in obedience to an Abuja High Court order.

Bill Gates Donates $25m to Fight Polio in Nigeria

Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, in a renewed effort against Polio Mellitis, Monday, pledged to assist polio endemic countries to eradicate the disease.  Gates, who was in Nigeria recently for a personal assessment of the disease promised to commit over $25 million dollars to purchase more than100 million oral polio vaccine for Nigeria. Gates said polio eradication was his pet project and promised to work with the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Bank, UNICEF and Rotary International for necessary collaboration so that the disease could be eradicated in countries where it still exists.

History, As Nigerian Finds Cure for Diabetes

A Nigerian scientist, Dr. Louis Obyo Nelson, has finally found a cure for the dreaded diabetes disease which afflicts over 123 million sufferers all over the world. The Minister of State for Health, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, Tuesday, lauded the production of Antidiabetic Phytopharmaceutical by Nelson in collaboration with the Nigerian Pharmaceutical Research and Development. The drug, which was said to have been administered on many diabetic victims, has been found to be very safe and highly effective. It was also said to have corrected erective dysfunctions noticed in those victims.

Ports: Agents Threaten Strike over High Charges

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents has given the Federal Government a 72-hour ultimatum ending on Monday, to address the deficiencies in port operations. ANCLA said it would withdraw all freight services at all the nation’s ports and borders if the demand was not met.

Chevron Nigeria Gets New CEO

Chevron Corporation has made Mr. Andrew Fawthrop chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its Nigeria Mid Africa Strategic Business Unit, Chevron Nigeria Ltd. Fawthrop assumed his new role formally on February 1. He takes over from Mr. Fred Nelson who assumes the new position of President and Chief Executive Officer - Chevron Mining Incorporated in Englewood, Colorado, the United States of America.

EFCC Nabs Businessman Over N17b Fraud

Chairman of Tanzila Petroleum Company, Alhaji Shehu Badamasi, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N17.7billion fraud. The oil magnate is being charged with criminal conspiracy, fraud, and diversion of credit facility of about N17.7 billion. The billionaire businessman was said to have taken the funds from Intercontinental Bank between 2006 and 2008. When contacted on the matter, the Head, Media and Publicity in EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest but declined further comment.

FG Moves to Transfer 400 Nigerians from British Jails

The Federal Government has concluded plans to bring back home 400 Nigerians who are serving various jail terms in British prisons, to conclude their prison terms, Minister of Interior, General Godwin Abbe (rtd), disclosed on Tuesday.  The Minister said the proposed plan depends on the consent of the National Assembly to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Police Train for Arms Handling, Intelligence

As part of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro’s measure to put a permanent stop to accidental discharge amongst policemen on stop-and-search duties across the country, the Zone 2 Command of the Police Force which comprises Ogun and Lagos States, yesterday, flagged off training on arms handling for its Inspectors and rank and file. The training which is to be in batches would have 50 policemen in the ratio of 20 from Lagos, 20 from Ogun and 10 from the Zonal Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.

Police Kill Three Suspected Armed Robbers

Three suspected armed robbers, who had been terrorising motorists and passengers on the Monguno-Maiduguri Highway, were on Wednesday gunned down by the joint police and military patrol team in a shoot-out. Commander of the patrol team, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), John Bassey, disclosed that luck ran out on the robbers when they opened fire on the security agents, who swiftly responded and gunned down the three suspects.

Abducted Borno Councillor Found in Niger State

A serving LG Councillor in Borno State, Hon. Abdullahi Mohammed Bui who was allegedly abducted by a mob of criminals was found alive in Niger State after a week. The 36-year-old councillor was said to have been captured by unidentified persons after a council meeting. Eyewitness account said the councillor was discovered drugged and half-dead with his mouth fastened with cellophane material in a ditch along the Kaduna-Lagos express way.

UN Body to Quiz Nigeria on Human Rights Violations

The Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation, will this week be quizzed on its human rights record at Geneva, Switzerland, by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Nigeria has also submitted a report to the world body on the human rights situations in the country. Other countries scheduled for examination this month include China, Russia, Cuba and Mexico. In order to counter some of the alleged inaccuracies contained in the Nigeria report, human rights organisation, Amnesty International has provided the UN Human Rights Council with an alternative report in which it highlights some of the major areas of human rights concern in the country, with recommendations on how to tackle them.

N’ASS to Spend N2.5bn on Security

The National Assembly will spend N2.5bn on security at the National Assembly Complex as well as for lawmakers and its top officials. Details of the sum are contained in the 2009 budget passed by both houses of the National Assembly awaiting harmonisation by the conference committee. Of the sum, the Senate had about 90 per cent of the total vote, having earmarked a staggering N2.3bn for security. Under the heading of Other Services, the item was described as security vote (including operations). The House of Representatives, under the same heading, had N36m for security services.

INTERNATIONAL

Rights Groups Accuse Israel, Hamas of Gross Abuse in Gaza

Human rights groups are seeking to build a case that Israel and Hamas violated the laws of war during the fighting last month in Gaza. Given the clarity of Hamas' violations, such as firing rockets at Israeli cities, organisations are focusing more on Israeli actions, the facts of which they say are harder to establish. Among the questions being raised is whether Israel used disproportionate force and failed to protect civilians.

World Powers Meet to Review Iran Strategy

In the first meeting since United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama took office vowing to talk directly with Tehran about its nuclear programmes, world powers on Wednesday met in Germany to review their Iran strategy. Obama's Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signalled that the US would support "tough and direct" diplomacy with Iran at the meeting of senior officials from the United States, Russia, Britain, China, France and Germany. But Iran is due to hold a presidential election in June and major powers may be inclined to wait for the results of that vote before launching concrete new steps.

AU Commission to Become Continental Authority

The African Union (AU) has decided to transform its commission into a continental authority. This entails more executive powers to whoever will be put on its saddle. The coming into being of a continental authority was one of the decisions taken on Wednesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the end of the 12th summit of its assembly of heads of state of the 53-member organisation, just as Libyan leader, Muammar Ghaddafi, was elected as the new chairman of the AU. Ghaddafi said that the Executive Council would hold a meeting within the next three months on transforming the AU Commission into the AU Authority.

Cheney Warns of New Terrorist Attacks on U.S.

Former United States (U.S.) Vice President Dick Cheney has warned of a "high probability" that terrorists will attempt a catastrophic nuclear or biological attack in coming years, and said he fears the Obama administration's policies will make it more likely the attempt will succeed.

128 Die in China Fireworks, Kenya Gasoline Blaze

Two separate tragedies struck in Kenya and China, penultimate weekend, claiming 128 lives.  In Kenya, an overturned gasoline tanker exploded as hundreds of people were trying to scoop up free fuel, killing at least 111 people and wounding 200 in one of the country's deadliest accidents. Seventeen people were killed and 20 injured in a blaze set off by fireworks inside a bar in Southeast China. The accident happened late on Saturday evening when a group celebrating a birthday set off fireworks at their table inside the bar. This reportedly set the ceiling on fire, and the entire bar was soon engulfed in flames.

Israel Threatens Stiffer Response to Hamas' Fresh Rockets

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that his country would take a "disproportionate response" to the continued firing of rockets into Israel from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Since ending the offensive, Israel has conducted retaliatory strikes and pounded tunnels Hamas uses to smuggle in weapons from Egypt. Israeli forces have also shot and killed three men who Palestinians identified as farmers along the Gaza-Israel border.

Sri Lanka Warns Foreign Media, Diplomats as Fighting Rages

Authorities in Sri Lanka have warned Western diplomats, foreign journalists and aid groups that they would be "chased" out of the country if they appear to favour the Tamil Tiger rebels. Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, allegedly singled out the ambassadors of Switzerland and Germany, the Cable News Network (CNN), the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Al-Jazeera in his criticism of foreigners, accusing them of being biased.

Britain loses $4.3 Billion to Snowstorm

Britain’s capital, London, cleared the soggy remnants of a paralysing snowstorm, Tuesday as businesses counted the multi-billion pound cost. An estimated six million people skipped work on Monday when the largest snowstorm to hit London in 18 years stopped bus and subway services, grounded airliners and hobbled businesses. The Federation of Small Businesses said the cost to Britain’s economy through lost productivity could be as high as 3 billion pounds ($4.3 billion).

Afghans Rally against U.S. Troops over Civilian Deaths

Hundreds of Afghans, penultimate weekend, demonstrated against an overnight United States (U.S.) military raid that a villager said killed several civilians. But the American military said its forces only killed two militants.  The U.S. military said the operation in south eastern Ghazni province targeted a militant who coordinates attacks using roadside bombs and other weapons. It added that the coalition forces conducting the raid called out for all inhabitants to exit the targeted home, but several people barricaded themselves inside one building.  President Hamid Karzai for years has pleaded with U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces to prevent civilian deaths during military operations.

World Court Resolves 40-year Dispute over Black Sea

A forty-year dispute between Romania and Ukraine over an energy-rich area of the Black Sea has been resolved as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) drew a border giving Romania the larger share. The decision focused partly on a rocky and inhospitable island held by Ukraine and linked to the mythical Greek hero Achilles. The judgment did not mention of natural resources, and it was unclear how the new line would divide access to the region's estimated billions of cubic meters of natural gas and 10 million tons of oil. Ukraine and Romania both welcomed the decision.

29 Pakistani Policemen, Soldiers Kidnapped

Pakistani Taliban kidnapped 29 paramilitary soldiers and policemen on Thursday, police said, as the militants intensified their campaign against government forces. In the latest violence, militants attacked a police station in Shamzoi village in Swat and captured it after a siege of more than 24 hours, said senior police intelligence official Mohabat Khan. The Swat valley, only 130 km (80 miles) northwest of the capital, Islamabad, was for years a main tourist destination. Residents said that the militants have gained control of virtually the entire valley, making it a test of the government's determination to tackle the spread of the Taliban.

Sri Lanka Offers Rebels Amnesty on Condition of Surrender

Authorities in Sri Lanka have offered an amnesty to Tamil Tiger forces that surrender but refused to contemplate peace talks, vowing instead to crush those rebels who fight on.  The government, however, made it clear that it rejected international calls for negotiations to end the fighting, which has triggered global concern over civilian casualties. The Defence Ministry said that yesterday, 700 more civilians had fled rebel-held areas, where it said 120,000 are still being held by the Tigers as "human shields".

Scam: Police Parades Korean, 27 Others

The Federal Capital Territory police command yesterday paraded Dr. Sam Hamilton Lee from Korea and 27 others for alleged engagement in advance fee fraud activities otherwise known as 419. The Commissioner of Police for FCT, Haruna John who spoke through Deputy Commissioner 'A', Prince Steven Ekpei explained that Dr. Sam Hamilton Lee parades himself as a missionary of a new mission simply called "Sabatarian World Mission". The Korean had enlisted the services of a Nigerian identified as Engr. Adah Benson to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians and other innocent members of the society.

 

U.S. Diplomat in Ethiopia Found Dead

Brian Adkins, a newly assigned American diplomat in Ethiopia, was found dead last weekend at his home in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, an embassy spokesman and a senior State Department official told CNN.  U.S. Embassy press officer Michael McClellan identified Adkins and said he was from Columbus, Ohio. He was 25 at the time of his death. "He was found dead over the weekend and a criminal investigation is under way," McClellan told CNN on Thursday. "The Ethiopian federal police are investigating it.”