Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 17

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

14 Militants, Naval Ratings Die as JTF, Militants Clash in Bayelsa

Confrontations, penultimate Sunday night and the early hours of Monday, between militants and soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) along the Okilo Creek, and an SPDC facility in Nembe, Bayelsa State, ended with 14 suspected militants reportedly killed and their boats sunk, while the militants claim to have also killed 3 naval ratings and has some as hostages. The Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said that one soldier was injured. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, on Monday dissociated itself from the attack, but added that it would assist the hostages. It is also reported that the Rivers State Police Command has deployed gunboats in some areas to check piracy and militancy.

Briton Freed by MEND

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) on Sunday freed one of two British hostages held captive for about seven months. The hostage, Mr. Robin Barry Hughes, was handed over to contacts who in turn handed him over to his employers. The second hostage, Matthew Macguire, is still in MEND’s custody, the militant group said. A security source confirmed his release, and said that he is in a stable condition. Hughes and Maguire were part of a group of 27 oil workers were seized by gunmen who hijacked their vessel in September 2008.

Police Rescue Kidnapped Expatriate in A’Ibom

The police in Akwa Ibom State on Saturday engaged suspected kidnappers in a gun battle and rescued an expatriate working in the state. Two of the kidnappers were arrested in the process. The Lebanese, identified as Mosouf, was allegedly abducted by the masked gunmen on Thursday morning at the proposed site of the state airport in Oron. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Gab Ngban, confirmed the incident.

Rivers Police Distribute Emergency Call Numbers

The Rivers state police command has commenced distribution of emergency call numbers to the public to help them reach the police quickly during emergencies. The command's spokesperson, Rita Innoma-Abbey said that the release of the phone numbers was part of the command's security awareness campaign aimed at making people in the state more security conscious. Divisional police officers are expected to carry out the exercise in their zones and ensure that people at the grassroots also get the emergency numbers. She urged the people to use the numbers for any emergency and assured that the police would respond in good time.

JTF Launches Operation to Flush Out Militants

Three gunboats occupied by over 30 men of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) have been deployed to Nembe Creeks, Bayelsa State to hunt down militants who killed some naval ratings and injured soldiers guarding a Shell platform on Monday. The coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said the security outfit had re-doubled efforts at capturing the suspects, as he allayed the fears of the public and urged law-abiding citizens to go about their businesses without fear of molestation by its troops.

Navy Deploys Gunboats to A’Ibom

The Naval command in Akwa Ibom State has had its arsenal beefed up by three new gunboats. The gun boats would be deployed to the surveillance of the coastal waters of Akwa Ibom state, which, in recent times had become vulnerable to militants' attacks. Exxon Mobil had earlier threatened to relocate from Akwa Ibom following increased militant strike on its facilities.

Oil-Producing Communities give Bayelsa Ultimatum

Oil-producing communities in Bayelsa State on Wednesday gave the state government a 21-day ultimatum to establish an Oil-producing Communities’ Development Commission for the state. Under the aegis of the Dodo River Regional Development Council (DRRDC), the communities said they would take measures to ensure that the government established an oil-producing areas development commission to assist the riverside communities to catch up with the rest of the state. Chairman of the DRRDC, Mr. Berri Negress, said the council had compiled signatures from oil-bearing communities in six out of the eight LGAs.

Kidnapped Italian Regains Freedom

Abducted Italian and construction engineer with the Marlum Construction Company Nig Ltd, in Ebonyi State government, Mr Giuceppe Canova, Wednesday regained his freedom. Canova was abducted by unknown gunmen on Monday April 6, while on his way to the company’s construction site, in Abakaliki.

9 Killed as Police, Robbers Clash in Ebonyi Bank Robbery

Nine persons were reportedly killed in a shootout with police when suspected armed robbers attacked the Afikpo branch of a new generation bank in Ebonyi state. Three other suspects were arrested alive.  One of the suspects, Ukpai Inya, claimed that he went to inform the police about the robbery but was arrested in the process. The state Commissioner of Police, Kachi Udeoji, said five AK47 riffles, 12 magazines, several rounds of ammunition and a bus were recovered. He also disclosed that though the affected bank had announced that it lost a whooping N21 million to the robbers, the police only recovered N6, 500. 00.

120, 000bpd Shut in as MEND Threatens Attack On JTF Formation

The recent fire outbreak at Bomu manifold belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has led to a production loss of about 120,000 barrels a day as Shell, Wednesday declared force majeure on Bonny Light Crude oil exports. Production might further be affected as the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) warned of further clashes with the men of the Joint Task Force (JTF). The MEND said it would “join the fray” between the military JTF and some youths, who it said were protesting against the SPDC in Bayelsa State. MEND also announced that it had moved two British hostages “out of harm’s way” in anticipation of unrest.

Crude Oil Prices Drop Again
•Shell Extinguishes Bomu Fire

United States crude fell by $3.21 or 6%, to $49.03 a barrel on Monday, while Brent crude shed $3.00 to $51.06. This was after the International Energy Agency (IEA) drastically reduced its forecast for oil demand. Meanwhile Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has announced that it had put out the pipeline fire at its Bomu Manifold in Ogoniland of Rivers State. This is part of its effort to re-start an estimated crude oil output of 120,000 bpd that was shut in due to the incident. Since Shell vacated Ogoniland in 1993, suspected militants and other criminal gangs have continued to set the company’s facilities in the area on fire.

Unrest in Niger Delta Claims 1,000 Lives -Report

Violence in the Niger Delta region has left 1,000 people dead and cost the nation $24bn last year, report says. Ledum Mitee, chairman of the Niger Delta Presidential Technical Committee, says the figures only cover the first nine months of 2008. The unrest has cut Nigeria's oil output by about 25% in recent years.

Two Kidnapped at Easter

Two persons in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, were kidnapped, penultimate Sunday, by yet-to-be identified gunmen. The two men, who came in from Lagos for the Easter holiday, were said to be drinking at a spot in the town when the gunmen suddenly appeared and took them away. They later on Monday made contact with the relations of the hostages and made a ransom demand of N10m each for their release. The Police Public Relations Officer at the state police command, Mr. Fidelis Agbo, could not be reached on his telephone for the police reaction to the incident.

Reps Plan Meeting With 500 Militant Groups In Niger Delta

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on Niger Delta is set to meet with over 500 militant groups as part of efforts geared at solving the crisis in the Niger Delta. Chairman of the committee, Abdul Ningi, said that the committee would in the first week of May meet with the militant groups among other stakeholders in the region.

Firms Conclude Ebok Field Appraisal

Oriental Energy Resources and Afren Energy Resources have announced a successful outcome of the Ebok field appraisal. Ebok-4, drilled by the Transocean Trident IV jack up drilling unit, reached a total depth of 3,838ft measured depth ("md") on 17th December 2008. The well encountered a total gross oil column of 284ft in high quality reservoir sands ranging in depth from 2,560ft to 3,718ft. Well test analysis and dynamic reservoir simulation modelling confirms that flow-rates of between 2,500 to 3,500 bpd per well in a production scenario are expected, which is also consistent with offset production data from analogous fields in the area.

Total Spends $50Million on Security

The boss of French oil company, Total, has revealed that the security budget for the company’s Nigerian oil operations now runs to around 50 million dollars per year. A senior Total executive, Roger Poirier, told AFP that annual costs stemming from the need to hire extra men to protect employees and ward off additional delays to pumping schedules owing to unrest in the Niger Delta region, were estimated at about 50 million dollars.

NOSDRA Fines Shell N1m over Oil Spill Fire

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has been fined N1 million over failure to clean up oil spill sites in which resulted in an inferno that destroy some part of  Peremabiri community, in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa state. The financial penalty was imposed by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) as required by its Act which stated that the fine should be paid within 14-day from the date of receipt of such a letter from the Agency. Shell is also required to pay compensation to the victims after the determination of the level of damage caused by the fire incident. Shell was directed to mobilize for immediate clean-up and remediation to prevent further degradation of the environment.

Rivers Community Laments Oil Spill

The people of Otouro community in Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State have raised the alarm over the threat of environmental hazard resulting from an oil spill. Spokesman and the General-Secretary of the community, Messrs Distinction Orugbani said the March 13 spill, which resulted from an old ruptured pipeline, has brought untold hardship to the people, as they also lamented that the community has suffered multiple pollution from oil spill. They urged the government agencies concerned and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), among others, to come to their aid before it is too late.

200 Displaced in Ikom Windstorm

About 200 hundred persons have been displaced following a windstorm that ravaged the Ikom town and its environs in Cross River State. Property worth millions of naira was also lost in the disaster, including the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation Ikom which had about 200 meters of its perimeter fence pulled down. More than 20 houses with 50 families had their roofs blown off and collapsed walls of their houses exposing the occupants to untold hardship.

N1.5bn to be Spent on Clean-up of Ogoniland

The Federal Government and the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) have approved N1.5 billion for the technical study on the clean-up of Ogoniland allegedly polluted by Shell. The Federal Government has also approved the immediate commencement of the technical study of all the locations affected by oil spillage in Ogoniland as a necessary prelude to the clean-up. President Yar’Adua directed the Presidential Implementation Committee, Shell, UNEP and Ogoni to hold consultations with all stakeholders involved in the exercise and ensure that all stakeholders were carried along.

N2 Million Notes Recovered as Police Raid Aba Market

The Abia State Police Command on Wednesday confiscated about N2 million worth of counterfeit notes when it raided the Umuehieba Industrial Shoe Line in Aba. Thirteen armed robbery suspects and alleged dealers in fake naira notes were arrested in the raid. The State Commissioner of Police, Edgar Tam Nanakumo, also said two bags of substances suspected to be Indian hemp and cocaine were recovered. Nanakumo said in another raid by the Joint Police/Army Patrol, the anti-kidnap unit and the Abia State Vigilante Services on the cocaine and heroine market 12 suspects were arrested with hard drugs.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Group Owns Kidnap of Edo Commissioner's Wife

Few days after the release of the wife of the Edo State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Mrs. Itohan Obayagbona, a group, Toru - Ibe Liberated Movement of Niger Delta has claimed responsibility for the abduction and warned that more attacks in the state would followed if nothing was done to address the continuous marginalization of the Ijaws in the state. Mr. Ibe-Dubanor Godsent, the spokesman of the group, said that their action was to protest the continuous marginalization of the Ijaws in Edo State and their non-inclusion in the cabinet of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and previous administrations.

Shell Resumes Operation at Otorogu Plant

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Monday said it has resumed operation at its Otorogu, Delta State-based gas plant shut down after its pipeline was breached, resulting in about 25 per cent drop in national power supply. With this development, the recent power generation cut in the country due to gas shortage may be on its way up.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Ilaje Communities Raise Alarm over Missing Fishermen

Oil producing communities in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State on Friday raised the alarm over the disappearance of four fishermen in the state. The fishermen were said to be part of a team that went to the field platform of Agip Oil Producing Company to deliver a letter of protest to the company. The communities allege that the fishermen were attacked by the security operatives attached to Agip. According to the fishermen association, Mr. Idowu Mafimisebi, the people had written several letters to the company, requesting for assistance without any response.

Zone 11 Police Make 1,202 Arrests in March

Police in Zone 11, which comprises Ondo, Oyo and Osun states, have said that they arrested over 1,202 suspects in March. A police source disclosed this in Osogbo on Monday. The source said that Oyo State recorded the highest number of arrests with 896 suspects, followed by Osun with 183, while Ondo State recorded 123.

Oyo CP Dismissed Joint Military Patrol in Crime Control

The new Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Alhaji Baba Bolanta, on Monday ruled out the joint military/police patrol meant to curb rising crime wave in the state. Bolanta pointed out that the command has competent officers to fight criminals in the state. Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala had approached the Federal Government for the take off of the joint military/police patrol in the state last December when armed robbers unleashed mayhem on three banks in a day, killing no fewer than 10 persons, including five policemen while several others were injured.

23 Die in Kwara Road Crash

Twenty-three people were feared dead, penultimate Sunday night in a motor accident at 'Kanbi', Bode Sa'adu, along Ilorin-Jebba Road, Kwara State, when their vehicles travelling in opposite directions had a head-on collision. The incident, according to sources was caused by a motorcycle operator who darted in front of one of the vehicles from a bye-pass linking the single lane express road. In an attempt to avoid the motorbike, the driver of the bus, suspected to be coming from the Northern part of the country, rammed into the other one.

3 Die in Ibadan Road Crash

Three fans of Chelsea football club were, Tuesday night, crushed to death by a moving tanker at Apata area of Ibadan, Oyo State, as they rushed to watch the side’s encounter with Liver Pool Football Club. The victims who were riding on a motorcycle were said to have run under the fast- moving tanker.

Fayose Alleges Arms Build-up in Ekiti

Former Governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose, Thursday, alerted security agencies to alleged stockpiling of arms ahead of the April 25 rerun election. He accused some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over being behind the arms build-up. He also warned the security agencies against colluding with those he called the enemies of the people to rig the rerun.

Oando Commences Development Work on 210,000 MT Lekki Terminal Project

Oando plc announced at the weekend that it has started work on the development of an ultra-modern refined petroleum products import terminal located at the Lagos State Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ). Consequently, the company said it has commissioned Front End Engineering Design (FEED) of the terminal scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2009, whilst the entire project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2012. The 210,000 metric tons (MT) capacity terminal is conceptualised to be best-in-class and the largest purpose built product terminal in the sub-Saharan Africa, with facilities to dispatch over 500 trucks per day.

Armed Bandits Kill Man at Ijebu Ode

Two months after armed robbers attacked a bureau de change chief in Ijebu Ode; his younger brother, Alhaji Umaru Usman, was early on Tuesday killed by suspected armed robbers in the same town. The incident happened when four armed robbers visited his residence and demanded some money allegedly believed to have been brought to the house. Eye witness said that Usman told the thieves that the money was not in his custody and this infuriated the robbers, who instantly shot Usman twice and fled the area. The elder brother of the deceased lamented that about four members of his family had been attacked at their personal residences in recent times. The Ijebu Divisional Police Area Commander, Mr. Oyedokun Omolodun, confirmed the incident.

Police Recover Five Stolen Cars in Cotonou

Five cars suspected to have been stolen from various spots in Nigeria have been recovered from Cotonou in the Republic of Benin. The cars were suspected to have been stolen by trans-border bandits in December 2008. The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Mr. Frank Mba, said that the cars were recovered through the collaborative efforts of policemen from Nigeria and their counterparts in Benin Republic.

6 Die in Kankia Auto Crash

Six persons, including two nursing mothers, died while 10 others were injured in a motor accident, which occurred on Tuesday in Kankia LGA of Katsina State. An eyewitness said the accident occurred when a Toyota bus veered off the road and fell into a ditch. He said the vehicle, with 16 passengers on board, was allegedly travelling on a high speed from Katsina, when the driver lost control at a sharp bend.

Ogun Police Recover Fake Dollars, 14 Stolen Vehicles, Kill Robbery Victim

The Ogun State Police Command has found $30,000 in fake currency that was abandoned by an unknown person in Ososa, Ogun State. The Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Patrick Dokumor, explained that the brief-case was discovered by the road side on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway by the anti-crime patrol team on Friday. He also announced the recovery of 14 vehicles in the command’s latest offensive against car snatchers in the state on Tuesday. Furthermore, he confirmed the killing of a robbery victim, Dr. Patrick Akhaba, by the police, who mistook him for the robbers. The late Dr. Akhaba was said to have come out to the streets with his pump action rifle while the police, who had laid ambush in the area, having heard his gunshots, mistook him for one of the robbers.

Police Deploy More Men in Ogun Assembly Complex

The Ogun State Police Command has deployed more men in the state House of Assembly complex, ostensibly to clear insinuations that the command has conspired with the state executive to frustrate the attempt of the lawmakers to reconvene. The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Tunji Egbetokun, had consistently accused the police of refusing to cooperate with the Group of 15 lawmakers, allegedly planning the removal of Governor Gbenga Daniel, as the political crises between the governor and the lawmakers worsened.

Drug Suspect Ingests 3.349kg of Cocaine

Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted nine suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos over unlawful possession of substances suspected to be cocaine. One of the suspects, Uko John Ifeanyi, 46, was found to have ingested 136 wraps of the substance, weighing 3.349 kilogrammes.  This is the largest quantity of cocaine ingested by a drug suspect at a time since the establishment of the agency. John was arrested on April 9, 2009 during the screening of passengers on KLM flight to Aachen in Germany.

Govt Moves 200 Containers to Onne, Decongests Lagos Ports

The Federal Government has transferred at least 200 containers from Lagos ports to the Onne port in Rivers State as part of its decongestion drive. A total of 2, 000 have been marked for transfer to the Onne port, from the Lagos ports. Meanwhile, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Onne port branch has urged government to review freight charges to the eastern ports and create incentives that would encourage the use Onne, Calabar and Warri ports. The ANLCA spokesperson, Emeka Dele Naze, said if Onne and other ports were fully utilized, there would be no need for government to use any port as a dumping ground for overtime containers.

GENERAL

Churches Burnt, Scores Injured in Niger Violence

The Easter celebration on Monday turned sour in Gwada town and Minna, both in Niger State, as people suspected to be Muslim fundamentalists stormed some churches, injuring several persons, burning 3 churches and destroying properties worth millions of naira. Those injured were either stabbed or hit by stones, a victim said. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Oguche, said a detachment of riot policemen were immediately deployed to put the situation under control, and 88 Muslim fanatics were arrested. Meanwhile, 43 persons were reportedly killed in separate auto accidents in Katsina state and 10 injured Kwara state last weekend.

FG to Inaugurate Police Reform Implementation Committee

The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Lame, has been named as the chairman of the Police Reform Implementation Committee. The committee, which is expected to be inaugurated on April 23 by President Yar’Adua, also has as members, the Inspector-General of Police, Chairman of the Police Service Commission and a representative of the National Human Rights Commission. The committee is charged with co-ordinating the implementation of the Government White Paper on Police Reforms as derived from the report of the Alhaji M.D. Yusuf-led committee on the Reform of the Nigeria Police Force.

NAPTIP Rescues 809 Trafficking Victims in Six Months

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) said in Abuja on Monday that it rescued 809 victims from traffickers between October 2008 and March 2009. The Director, Investigation and Monitoring, NAPTIP, Alhaji Babadede Muhammed, said that the period witnessed an increase in the incidence of human trafficking. He disclosed that the figure includes 278 male victims and 531 females, indicating that women and girls are at higher risk than men. Muhammed added that 96 traffickers had been arrested over the reported cases.

Security Intercepts Arms in Plateau State

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has disclosed that security agents have intercepted a large cache of arms allegedly planned for use to cause mayhem in Jos. He was, however, not specific about when the arms were seized. He said but for the watchful eyes of the security men that led to the seizure of the arms, the arms would have been smuggled into Jos and distributed for the purpose of destroying key places and blowing up some very important installations in the state.

Soldiers Nab Armed Robbery Gang in Kogi

A three-man robbery was, Monday, arrested by a team of soldiers in Itobe area of Kogi State. Three shot guns, forty live ammunition, one pump action riffle, bags of onions, phones as well as wrist watches said to have earlier been dispossessed from unsuspecting victims, were recovered. The hoodlums had been attacking travellers at the Oturpa- Enugu highway before luck ran out of them. Deputy Commander of the Chari-Megumeri Barracks, Colonel Olumide Kolaju, paraded the suspects.

Police in Bauchi Threaten Strike

Policemen from the ranks of constable to inspector serving in the Bauchi State Police Command have given the command a three-week ultimatum within which to address their grievances which include non-payment of approved allowances or face strike action. Spokesman of the aggrieved policemen said they had given the command ultimatum, alleging that the command had not paid their approved disturbance allowances as well as course allowances among other grievances. He also alleged that their promotions were not being effected as at when due. They also alleged that they were forced against their will to subscribe to a new publication from the force headquarters.

23 Nigerians Deported from E’Guinea, Lament Negligence of Nigerian Govt

About 23 Nigerians, deported from Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday have alleged that they were abandoned by the Nigerian embassy while they faced serious ordeal in that country. Spokesman of the deportees, Mr Polycarp Nnani, said boats and money were seized from them despite possession of valid documents. Nnani claimed that the authorities had violated their human rights through the inhuman treatment meted out to them, and reports of such maltreatment had been sent to the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Senate President, Director General State Security Services, the National Security Adviser, Speaker of House of Representatives, and commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, but, they all failed to respond.

Marketers Stop Fuel Imports over Deregulation

Oil marketers have reportedly suspended importation of petroleum products. They claim that even though the market had been deregulated the government had pegged the prices of the products and that they were currently selling below cost. But NNPC assured on Thursday there would not be any scarcity in the near future because it has 30-day reserves.

Nigeria Calls for Regional Effort against Malaria

Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, has canvassed for a sub-regional effort among West African states to jointly fight the malaria scourge in the region. Osotimehin stated that a concerted effort by West African states to fight malaria together will lead to a massive reduction in the disease burden along the region as such an effort will facilitate the cross-sharing of ideas, challenges and best practices. He added that individual states can no longer fight or tackle the disease in isolation.

6 Die in Auto Crash

Six people were burnt to death after a head-on collision between two vehicles on the Bauchi-Kano road in Birnin-Kudu LGA of Jigawa State. Eyewitness account said one of the vehicles coming from Bauchi State to Kano crashed headlong into another car coming from the Kano axis, and the two cars immediately burst into flames. Efforts made by sympathizers at the scene of the accident to rescue the victims proved abortive as the razing fire defiled even the efforts of fire servicemen who arrived much late.

FG Raises Team for Customs Reform

The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated a Presidential Task Force on the Reform of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The task force is mandated to re-organise and transform the Customs Service into a modern institution capable of enhancing revenue generation, facilitating trade, and curbing smuggling, as well as checking the importation of illegal arms.

SEC Sanctions Nova, MD over AP Shares, Invites EFCC

A Lagos stock broking firm, Nova Finance and Securities Limited and its Managing Director, Mr. Eugene Anenih, have been sanctioned over the recent share price manipulation of African Petroleum (AP) Plc. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suspended Nova from all capital market activities for one year, with effect from Thursday. The company and its managing director were also fined N190, 000 for violating rule 177 and the code of conduct for market operators. Anenih has also been disqualified from being employed in any arm of the securities industry for five years and has been referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution. Nova could not explain the motive for the transactions, when asked.

Businessman Slain in Abuja

Politicians and other prominent indigenes of Imo State have condemned the murder of a businessman, Richard Ugorji, in Abuja. Ugorji, an indigene of Imo state until his death last weekend, was the chairman and chief executive officer of Matrics West Africa Limited, a construction firm. Ugorji was killed at residence in Abuja. He was said to have been shot by the assailants when he opened his door to receive them, thinking they were guests.

FG Seeks Assistance from Switzerland to Recover More Looted Funds

The Federal Government has made a passionate appeal to the government of Switzerland to assist Nigeria in the bid to recover more looted funds from Swiss banks. Switzerland had Wednesday assured the Federal Government of its willingness to assist Nigeria recover the $150 million Halliburton bribe money trapped in Swiss bank accounts if Nigeria formally requests assistance.

FG Puts Fresh N15bn into NIPP

The Presidential Steering Council on the National Integrated Power Project on Tuesday approved contracts valued at N15bn for the supply of items that would facilitate the completion of ongoing power projects. The Council also approved the payment of N330m for the completion of the 33 KV double circuit line that is expected to improve power supply to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

INTERNATIONAL

Poland Fire Kills 21

A fire described as "fast-moving" swept through a three-storey building housing homeless families in the north-western part of Poland early yesterday, killing at least 21 people and injuring 20 more, including an infant, officials said. The blaze broke out in a shelter for people waiting for social housing in Kamien Pomorski, 370 miles north-west of the Polish capital and near the Baltic Sea coast. The injured, many of whom suffered broken bones after jumping out of windows on the upper floors to escape the blaze, were taken to local hospitals.

Turkish Police Detain Suspected Coup Plotters

About four current and retired university rectors and an operator of an opposition Turkish television station have been detained in Istanbul after Police raided their homes and offices over an alleged plot to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey's official Anatolian Agency reported that the raids were part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged ultranationalist plot to overthrow the government, but many see it as a witch-hunt against opposition. Over 130 suspects have been accused of carrying out assassinations and bombings in an effort to destabilise society and undermine Turkey's elected government.

11 Pirates Arrested by French Forces

About 11 pirates were detained on Wednesday after French forces raided a pirate supply ship off the coast of Kenya, as pirate attacks and counterattacks stepped. The raid thwarted the pirates' planned attack on a Liberian-registered vessel, the French Defence ministry said. Meanwhile, Somali pirates fired grenades and automatic weapons at an American freighter loaded with food aid but the ship escaped. The pirates have vowed to hunt down American ships and kill their sailors. The Liberty Sun's American crew was not injured in the latest attack but the vessel sustained some damage, owner Liberty Maritime Corp. said.

Egypt Detains Palestinian Suspects, Finds Explosives near Gaza

Police in Egypt have detained three teenage male Palestinians on suspicion of crossing illegally into Egypt. Egypt on Tuesday tightened security on its border with Israel to prevent illegal crossings after authorities detained 25 men Egypt said were linked to the Lebanese Shi'ite group, Hezbollah, plotting attacks in Egypt. A prosecutor's statement has said 49 men are wanted in the alleged Hezbollah plot, which state media said was intended to target Israelis and Egyptians. Egyptian police said they also found 900 kilogrammes of TNT explosives hidden in 18 sacks near the border with Gaza.

Five Chinese Sailors Feared Killed as Boat Explodes In Lagos

Five Chinese sailors were killed in Lagos on Monday night when their fishing boat exploded. The Chinese Consulate-General confirmed the tragedy. Another member of the team sustained injury on his right ankle. The owner of the fishing boat, Mr. Zheng, said at the scene of accident, that the blast happened at the ship’s engine cabin when the five crew members were trying to start the boat for a new journey.

Israel Seeks New Approach on Peace with Palestine

Israel's foreign minister has said that his country needed to find a new approach to making peace with Palestinians. Meanwhile, Israel is unlikely to cooperate with a Gaza war crimes probe because it distrusts the UN agency sponsoring the investigation. Human rights groups have said there is strong suspicion both sides violated the rules of war in the January military offensive in Gaza. Hamas has persistently denied it violated the laws of war, but Israel maintains that Hamas gunmen used schools, mosques and homes to store weapons and launch missiles, thus turning them into targets.

16 Killed in Baghdad Bombing

A suicide bomber dressed in an army uniform on Thursday detonated explosives among Iraqi soldiers at a base west of Baghdad, killing about 16 and wounding 50. This comes as a report by the England Journal of Medicine indicates that execution-style killings have been the leading cause of death among civilians in the Iraq war. The study covered the period from the March 20, 2003 invasion through March 19, 2008, in which 91,358 violent deaths were recorded by Iraq Body Count. Also, a United States (U.S.) Army master sergeant was convicted of murder in the 2007 killings of four bound and blindfolded Iraqis and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Master Sgt. John Hatley, 40, will also have his rank reduced to private, forfeit all pay and receive a dishonorable discharge.

Sri Lanka Halts Truce Efforts

Sri Lanka has stripped Norway of its role as broker of the island's moribund peace process, bringing an end to a decade-long effort to halt one of Asia's longest-running civil wars. The decision comes as the Sri Lankan government says it is on the verge of totally crushing the Tamil Tiger rebels, who have been cornered by the army in a narrow strip of jungle along the northeast coast. It also came as the Sri Lankan army began a unilateral two-day ceasefire it says will allow trapped civilians to escape the conflict zone before a final push is launched.

Somali Pirates Threaten Attack on Americans Seafarers

Somali pirates have vowed to avenge the killings of their members by American marine troops, during a rescue operation to free the captain of an American ship hijacked by the pirates. Meanwhile, a US congressman, Donald Payne, came under mortar fire on Monday as he was leaving in a plane from Mogadishu Airport in Somalia, but no one was injured in the attack, officials said. Pirate chief, Abdi Garad, threatened to target Americans in subsequent ship piracy on the endangered Gulf of Aden.

Somali Pirates Hijack on Hijacking Spree, Abduct 60 Crew Members

Somali pirates, Tuesday, went on a hijacking spree, capturing four ships and taking 60 crew members hostage in the Gulf of Aden. Pirates have vowed to retaliate for five colleagues slain by United States (U.S.) and French forces in recent hostage rescues. The latest seizures were the Lebanese-owned cargo ship MV Sea Horse, the Greek-managed bulk carrier MV Irene E.M. and two Egyptian fishing boats. Maritime officials said the Irene carried 21 to 23 Filipino crew and Egyptian officials reported 36 fishermen, mostly Egyptians, on the two boats. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) spokeswoman Shona Lowe said pirates in three or four speedboats captured the Sea Horse hours after the Irene was seized in a rare overnight raid.

Global Oil Demand Forecast Drops by 1.37mbpd

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said yesterday that world oil demand would drop by 1.37 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2009 to average 84.2 million bpd, as against an earlier forecast of 1.01 million bpd. OPEC expressed concern that world oil demand was shrinking faster than previously thought as a slowing global economy erodes consumption and keeps oil prices under pressure. The group further noted that demand was falling fastest in developed nations.

Plane Hijacked at Airport in Jamaica

A plane was been reported hijacked on the tarmac near the city of Montego Bay in Jamaica. Nobody has been injured and no passengers were aboard the plane, but the crew of seven were said to be aboard, according to airport spokeswoman Elizabeth Scotton. It was reported that seven people were being held hostage and that negotiations for their release were under way.