Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 20

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

A’Ibom Police Trail Kidnap, Murder Suspect

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has said it will soon apprehend the prime suspect behind the kidnap and murder of the Abak LGA Chairman’s daughter, Miss Aniefon Aniediabasi Udo. Miss Udo was kidnapped on Friday, April 17, 2009 and tortured to death before her remains were dumped at the front of her school, even after her father, Mr. Aniedi Udo, was said to have paid N10m as ransom to ensure her release.

$30m Plant Completed for Brass LNG

Dorman Long Engineering has completed a hot deep galvanizing plant worth $30m for the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas project, the Managing Director, Mr. Henry Okolo, said. Okolo explained that the project, which was begun four years ago, will be inaugurated in two months. He regretted that the other Nigerian companies declined interest, but Dorman Long built the plant, which he described as the largest in Africa.

Asari Dokubo Kicks Against Amnesty

Leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, has opposed the recent amnesty offered by President Yar’adua, saying that “Armed struggle remains the most viable solution to the Niger Delta crisis”. He accused President Yar’Adua of treating the region with levity, saying that dialogue has not brought anything.

Police Informants Rewarded in Rivers State

The Rivers government has made well its promise of rewarding any member of the public who gave useful information on the whereabouts of four notorious kidnappers in the state with N1 million each. The state Commissioner for Police, Mr Bala Hassan, on Wednesday stated that the information provided by people led to the rescue of a Scottish oil worker in April. He stated that while about three of the criminals are in police custody, one Nwaeze Adiele from Abia State is still at large.

Violence Erupts in Rivers Community

Several lives were lost, penultimate Sunday, in a chieftaincy tussle, which snowballed into violence at Umuechem community in Etche LGA of Rivers State. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey, said the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was on top of the situation and had made some arrests. In another incident, protesting youths from Ogoni paralyzed activities at the premises of Gitto Construction Company handling a road project, as they alleged hardship caused by the firms’ operations. The protesters alleged that the firm was destroying their farms, and had failed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Police Foil Bank Robbery in A’Ibom, Arrest Suspect

The Police in Akwa Ibom State have foiled an attempt to rob a branch of First Bank at Etinan LGA and arrested a suspect. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Walter Rugbere, said the hoodlums came into the state from Port Harcourt. Rugbere disclosed items recovered from the gang to include a Nissan Sunny and a Honda Accord car, a sledge hammer, one iron cutter, one iron punch, two gas cylinders with a hose and money stolen from the bank. He also paraded about 12 kidnapping and armed robbery suspects.

24 Fuel Stations Shut Down by DPR

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), last weekend sealed off 24 petrol stations in Enugu and Ebonyi states for selling petrol above approved pump prices and under delivery of pumps. The affected stations were found to be selling petrol at between N95 and N100 per litre, while three others were sealed for selling with faulty pumps. Regional Director, DPR, Enugu Zone, Dr. Christopher Okoronkwo, led a team of officials of the department on the exercise.

Abia Police Kill Suspected Kidnapper

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Edgar Nanakumo, Monday disclosed that men of his command, last weekend killed Mr. Chijioke Ekezie also known as Chim Chung, the suspected kidnapper and murderer of an Umuahia-based bank manager. Items recovered from them, he said, included three Nokia GSM phones, the N200, 000 cash paid as ransom on a kidnap victim, a motorcycle, and a Volkswagen saloon car, among others.

Four shot dead in a Failed Kidnap Bid

A young man, said to be a cousin of the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, and three other, were killed by the police in an exchange of fire in a failed kidnap attempt in Port Harcourt. They were said to be members of a six-man kidnap gang that abducted a young boy identified as Etop James. Luck ran out on them when vigilante members at Ogbunabali stopped their car at about 4.20am, but they refused to stop. The vigilante quickly alerted a police patrol team that gave them a hot chase. The kidnappers later abandoned their car after four were killed. In a search of the car, the boy was discovered in the boot with his hands tied and mouth gagged. Police spokesperson, Mrs Rita Inoma-Abbey, (DSP) disclosed that two other members of the gang escaped during the gun duel.

INC Oppose River Niger Dredging

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has kicked against plans by the Federal Government to dredge River Niger for the proposed Onitsha Inland Seaport, stressing that the project may have adverse effects, on the lives of Rivers and Bayelsa states people who are predominantly into fishing and farming. The INC stressed that the government should publicize the project's environmental impact assessment report before going ahead with it.

Police Parade Suspected Kidnapper in A'Ibom

The kingpin of a gang that specialises in kidnapping prominent personalities in Akwa Ibom State has been arrested by men of the state police command. The suspect, Emmanuel Boniface Udo, according to the Police Commissioner, Walter Rugbere, has confessed to have been involved in the kidnap and robbery of some prominent persons in the state. Rugbere maintained that he would immediately implement whatever law the state Assembly passes on kidnapping in the state.

Five Die In Rivers Violence

More than six persons have been murdered in different parts of Port Harcourt, in recent suspected cult killings. Residents of Ogbunabali community in Port Harcourt have reported attacks from unknown assailants who axed their victims in the middle of the night. Five persons who survived the attack are said to be recuperating at an undisclosed hospital. While some residents suspected that the attack was the handiwork of ritualists, others believe it to be connected with the death of a cult member, killed two weeks ago in the area. The Rivers Police Command’s spokesperson, Mrs. Rita Innoma-Abbey, confirmed the incident.

Police Reinstate Judges' Orderlies

The Enugu State Police Command says it has commenced reinstating security aides attached to judges in the state. The spokesman of the command, Mr Ebele Amaraizu said that a circular to effect the reinstatement had since been passed on to the operations unit of the command. The command had withdrawn police aides attached to judges and magistrates following a circular from the office of the Inspector General of Police, but the Enugu Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) threatened to boycott the courts, if the order was executed.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

JTF, Militants Clash in Delta

Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and militants in Delta State on Wednesday clashed in Chanomi Creeks in Warri South West LGA. Two gunboats of the JTF were reportedly damaged. The authorities of JTF admitted that two soldiers were injured in the attack. And it was gathered that the JTF troops were forced to retreat when it became apparent that the militants could overpower them. While the militants said the JTF launched a premeditated attack on them as they prepared for a festival, the spokesman of JTF, Col. Rabe Abubakar, said the JTF’s escort team on an assignment was ambushed by the militants.

15 Filipino Crewmen Abducted in Delta

Fifteen Filipinos crewmen aboard two vessels were on Thursday hijacked by gunmen in Gbaramatu community in Warri South-West LGA of Delta State. This was confirmed by the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre of the JTF, Col. Rabe Abubakar, who said the crew have been taken to unknown location around the Camp 5 area. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said that an affiliate group was responsible for the hijack, claiming that its action has to do with the ongoing battles with the military in Delta state.

Kidnappers of Isoko Leader Demand N200m Ransom

Hoodlums who kidnapped the Isoko leader in Delta State, Chief Oghale Ononeme, are demanding N200m from his family to release him. Ononeme, a former President-General of the Isoko Development Union, the umbrella body for the Isoko ethnic nationality in Delta State, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, penultimate Friday.

Cheviron Seeks Further Dialogue On Oil Reforms

Chevron Corporation has described the ongoing reforms of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria as very complicated and urged the Federal Government to engage its partners in further dialogue. The company also plans to ramp up production from its Agbami field in Nigeria to 250,000 barrels per day (b/d) and also commence gas production from the Escravos Gas Project 3 (EGP3A) this year. Ali Moshiri, Chevron’s vice president in charge of exploration and production in Africa and Latin America made this disclosure.

Task Force Arrests Pipeline Vandal

The Joint Task Force (JTF) has picked up a Shell Spy Police Sergeant, Sylvanus Ebhooman, and five others for alleged pipeline theft at Ughelli, Delta State. The suspects were alleged to have invaded Ughelli's Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Production Centre at Ugheli and made away with 4inch pipe belonging to the company. Sylvanus reportedly led troops to a place where their previous loots were being kept.  Items discovered include 67 "4-inch" pipes, two drums of condensate, 52 pieces of angle bar and 31 empty metal drums.

Bunkerers Vessel Sink in Delta

A vessel suspected to have been involved in illegal bunkering, loaded about 2,000 metric tonnes of crude oil sank due to strong tidal waves, off the coast of Forcados, in Warri South L.G.A of Delta State.  All the crew members managed to swim to safety, but no arrest was made.

Four Killed as Robbers Raid Bank

Armed robbers, Tuesday, attacked an Ughelli, Delta State branch of a commercial bank and carted away millions of naira. A customer was reportedly killed while three others sustained serious gunshot injuries. The police claimed that three of the bandits were reportedly killed by the community‘s vigilante boys and soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF), some allegedly made good their escape with the loot. Tuesday‘s incident occurred less than one week after similar fate befell the Ekrejeta-Abraka branch of the same bank.

27 Die in Edo Auto Crash

About 27 persons, penultimate Friday, died in two separate road accidents at Etsako West LGA of Edo State. The first accident claimed 14 lives. The second accident, which occurred at Igarra claimed 13 women who died on the spot, leaving only two persons alive. Zonal Commander of the Federal Road safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Zakari Nda, who confirmed the mishaps, attributed the cause to dangerous overtaking by the drivers of the vehicles.

Nine Die in Benin-Sagamu Road Accident

Nine people on Monday died while about 20 persons were injured in an accident along the Benin-Sagamu Expressway. The driver of the truck, it was gathered, lost control after the vehicle ran into a pothole on the road, and in the process, the truck somersaulted several times before veering into the bush. Many of the victims were said to be passengers who sat on top of the drums of the local gin being conveyed in the truck. The Divisional Police Officer in Ore, Mr. Abu Olanipekun, confirmed the accident.

Engineer Abducted in Warri

Unknown gunmen, Tuesday, kidnapped an engineer with a construction firm in Warri, Delta State. The gunmen reportedly traced the victim, Mr. Okoh, to his residence and whisked him away. JTF spokesman, Col. Rabe Abubakar, who confirmed the kidnap, appealed to people with useful information on the incident to come forward, as all the security agencies had spread their dragnets in an attempt to rescue the victim and bring the criminals to book.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Police Inspector, Two Robbers Killed in Hotel

A police inspector and two suspected armed robbers were, Monday, killed during a fierce gun battle at PMC Hotel in Ota, Ogun state. Police sources said that the robbers, who were about 20, stormed the hotel, where they exchanged gun shots with the policemen who had lodged in the hotel. The slain police inspector, identified as Ojo Olusegun, was among the six police detectives attached to the X-squad, Abuja, who were investigating a case of fraud at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.

Fire Razes Illegal Petroleum Depot

An illegal petroleum depot, located at Abule-Oba, Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos, has been razed down by fire. The inferno was successfully put out by firemen from the Ikorodu fire station, thereby saving other adjoining buildings which are also notorious for the illegal storage of petroleum products stolen from NNPC pipelines. The fire started when someone mistakenly struck a match which ignited the fire.

Son Arraigned for Bathing Mother with Acid

A man, Gbenga Adedeji, 31, has been arraigned in court for allegedly bathing his mother with acid in Lagos. Gbenga faces a two-count charge of attempted murder and causing permanent injuries to the victim’s body. But he denies knowledge of any such incident.

Gunmen Kill Osun Merchant

A merchant state was killed at his residence in Gbongan community of Osun state by unidentified gunmen after he identified two armed robbery suspects among the gang of robbers that attacked his residence last week. After the robbery, the deceased allegedly went to Gbongan Police Station and took the policemen to arrest some of those he identified in the gang. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olabode Akinola, on Monday, said that investigation had commenced on the case.

Four Human Skulls Dealers Arrested

Four suspected ritualists who specialise in cutting and selling human skulls from cemeteries were, penultimate Friday, arrested in Ijebu Igbo area of Ogun State. The suspects named two herbalists who they claimed usually bought the heads from them at the rate of between N2500 and N3000. The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident.

Eight Die in Osun Auto Crash

Eight persons lost their lives, while 10 others suffered serious injuries in a fatal road accident on Monday in Osun state. The accident involved an 18-seater commercial bus, a Toyota car and two trucks. An eyewitness account said the driver of the bus lost control and rammed into other vehicles travelling on the single-lane road. The FRSC unit Commander in Ikirun area, Mr. Ade Sule, attributed the accident to over-speeding by the driver of the passenger bus.

Three Suspected Drug Traffickers Arrested

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, has arrested three persons, two women and a man, for attempting to traffic hard drug. The suspects were said to have ingested drug, suspected to be cocaine. Their arrest came barely a week after a cracking down on a drug syndicate , which made use of conveyor belt to smuggle drugs into aircrafts at odd times, using untagged bags.

Firm Donates Vehicles for Lagos Security Patrol

The operation of Lagos State Security Trust Fund has received a boost, following the donation of 10 Ford Ranger vehicles to the outfit by Coscharis motors. The vehicles were received by the Managing Director, LSSTF, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, who commended the auto firm for the gesture. He said that the vehicles would ease the logistic problems of the outfit and translate into enhanced operation and improved security in the state.

Robbers Rob Hotel in Lagos

Armed robber laid siege on a hotel at Akesan area of Lagos State on Monday. It was gathered that the robbers had taken the security men at the hotel hostage before moving from room to room to raid the lodgers. The robbers made good their escape with their loot amidst exchange of gunfire with the police. The spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Frank Mba, confirmed the incident and one AK-47 rifle with two pieces of live ammunition were recovered at the scene.

Gunmen Kills Two In Lagos

Two persons, including a customs officer and an oil magnate, were on Wednesday killed at a filling station around the Egbeda area of Lagos state. It was gathered that as soon as they sighted the oil dealer, Monsur Akinyemi, and began to shoot in every direction. Determined to get the bandits, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Marvel Akpoyibo, sent several officers and detectives from the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) to the crime scene, but no arrest has been confirmed.

Four Killed as Hoodlums Hijack Masquerade festival in Ajegunle

Four persons were feared killed when hoodlums hijacked a masquerade festival at Ajegunle Lagos, and looted shops. More than 60 vehicles were reportedly damaged in the mayhem. Further reports of the incident remain sketchy.

Drunken Driver Crushes Man to Death

A jogger with the Community Fitness Club (CFC), Ijora-Badiya, Lagos, Abubakar Danjuma, has been crushed to death by a truck. Tragedy struck when a truck allegedly driven by a drunken driver crushed Danjuma who was trying to guide other members of the club away from the road. The driver of the truck was immediately arrested.

Primary School Pupil Drowns In Lagos Canal

A primary six pupil of St. John Mary School, Alagbado, Maria Bakare, was recently drowned in a canal on her way back from school after a heavy downpour. A search party was organised by her parents and neighbours who discovered her corpse under the bridge at Jesu O seun area, in Abule Egba.

Labour Hold Rally in Lagos

Labour and Civil Society Coalition on Wednesday accused the Federal Government of causing “artificial” fuel scarcity in the country in order to deceive Nigerians into accepting the deregulation of the downstream sector. LASCO, at its one-day rally in Lagos, said it was regrettable that Nigerians benefited nothing from the huge revenue made by the Federal Government from oil boom. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, who led the peaceful rally, added that the government was unserious about refining petroleum products locally. Nobody was arrested in the protest described by the police as peaceful.

GENERAL

West African Countries Partner against Human Trafficking

West African countries are strengthening their anti human trafficking laws to stem the rising cases of trading on persons, according to Nigeria's Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa. Aondoakaa said that the decision of countries in the sub region to tighten anti-human trafficking laws was coming against the backdrop of traffickers' migration to other parts of the sub-region from Nigeria, which has recently strengthened its laws against human trafficking.

EU to Tackle Drug Trafficking in West Africa with 100m Euros

The European Union has budgeted 100m Euros to fight the menace of Drug trafficking in Wes Africa.  In a statement from the ECOWAS secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, drug control experts from the EU, United Nations, British Department for International Development and 10 ECOWAS countries resolved to develop and implement a comprehensive regional action plan against illicit drug trafficking, drug abuse and organised crime.

AU Condemns Killing of Nigerian Peacekeeper in Darfur

The Chairman of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, has condemned last Thursday‘s killing of a Nigerian peacekeeper with the UN-AU Mission in Darfur. The Nigerian Officer was killed died penultimate Thursday evening during the hijack of his car in the strife-torn Sudanese region.

NNPC Wants MilitaryGuards For Pipeline

As a way of safeguarding and checking pipeline vandalism, the Federal Government has decided to use the military to secure oil pipelines. The Group Executive Director, Commercial, of the NNPC, Alhaji Aminu I. Baba-Kusa, said that the measure had become necessary as incidents of pipleline vandalism is affecting the activities of the NNPC as well as disturbing the free-flow of petroleum products.

Panel Proposes N77 per Litre of Fuel

Moves to address the lingering fuel crisis continued at the weekend with the Federal Government considering the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on Deregulation on the appropriate pricing of petrol. The current template puts the cost of imported petrol at N85 per litre while the pump price is N65, representing N20 subsidy per litre. The committee seeks to knock off N8 per litre from the the subsidy because of “identified leakages”. Currently, the marketers of the petroleum products have stopped importation because of issues relating to subsidy payment and “unstable policy environment”.

EFCC Detains Three Reps over N6bn Scam

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu; his deputy, Hon. Mohammed Jibo; and Committee Chairman on Rural Development, Hon. Paulinus Igwe, and six others have been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the N6bn rural electrification contract scam. They will remain in the custody of the commission until they are arraigned in court in a 156-count charge.

Nigeria Loses N6trn to Oil Price Decline

Nigeria has lost N6 trillion since the crude oil price in the international market began to decline, the Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Remi Babalola, disclosed this on Monday. According to him, the country had lost a quarter of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) put at N24 trillion. He said the crisis had shown that the country could not sustain its growth and meet the ever-increasing needs of the people with overdependence on crude oil sales.

US Court Awards Nigerian $75,000 for Racial Discrimination

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in the United States has been ordered to pay $75,000 to one of its former Nigerian engineers, Uche Ikwut-Ukwa, because he worked under a racially hostile environment, before he quit working in 2006. Ikwut-Ukwa was passed over for promotions 15 times and there was evidence that the district’s top administrator made “monkey sounds” when speaking to him. The judge said other black workers in the central Pennsylvania district also reported they regularly experience racially derogatory and insensitive conduct by their fellow employees and “The process for promotions did not reasonably and objectively provide equal consideration” to Ikwut-Ukwa.

18m Nigerians will Become Poorer This Year -World Bank

More Nigerians will fall into the poverty line this year. According to the World Bank, Nigeria will account for 18million of the 90 million Africans that will sink below the poverty line in 2009. World Bank Country Director, Dr. Onno Ruhl, who disclosed this, hinged the bank's position on the worsening global economy. He also disclosed that the Federal Government has approached the World Bank for a $1 billion loan to fight the malaria scourge. This comes barely a week after the Senate accused the Executive of "recklessness borrowing from foreign institutions."

Senate Investigates 10 Members over Oil Sector Reform Bill

The Senate on Wednesday mandated its committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions to investigate 10 Senators who attended a workshop over the Petroleum Industry Bill in Ghana. This decision was sequel to the allegations by Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum Matters, Dr. Emmanuel Egboga, saying that attempts were made to compromise senators to work against the bill.

Nigeria Re-elected into UN Council

Nigeria has won re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council after one round of voting on Tuesday in New York, reports indicate. But the election is not an extension of Nigeria‘s presidency of that council. The council operates out of Geneva, but elections into it as is the case in many UN agencies are held in New York.

Naira Falls as Fuel Import Increases Demand for Dollars

The resumed importation of petrol by marketers may have raised the demand for the United States dollars, thereby, putting pressure on the naira. The naira, which had maintained some level of stability at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Retail Dutch Auction System for a couple of weeks, depreciated to N146.20 from N146.05 during the week. In the last three weeks, the local currency had remained between N145.05 and N146.01, raising hopes that the scenario would be maintained for long.

SST Modular Fuel Station get Nod from DPR

The Department of Petroleum Resources has approved the Super Safe Tank modular fuel stations ahead of its full deployment in the Nigerian downstream oil sub-sector. The Managing Director of Super Safe Tanks Limited, Mr Ramses Najem, gave this information last week in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, during a facility tour of the ground storage and dispensing system of the firm. The reason for the approval, according to him, were the high safety standard of the technology and the fact that it offered cheap investment options to the downstream players.

CP Orders Arrest of Policeman over Assault Suspect

The new Commissioner of Police for the Niger State Command, Mr. Mike Zuokumor, has ordered the re-arrest of one Alhaji Dan Ali Mariga, over sexual assault and demanded for the arrest of a police officer over the suspect’s release. Mariga, who already had two wives and 13 children, according to reports, had requested a sexual relationship with the lady, but she declined. This annoyed Mariga, who waylaid her and beat her to a state of comma. The sympathisers who reported the matter to the police ensured the arrest of Mariga, but shortly after his arrest, he was said to have been released under questionable circumstances by the police officer in charge of the outpost.

FG Agree To Pay Oil Marketers N58.4b Subsidy

Almost five months after the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) stopped the importation of petroleum products, its members are importing the items again. Their decision followed an agreement in principle by the Federal Government to pay them N58.4 billion (about $400 million) as subsidy. The amount is higher than the arrears of the subsidy owed the marketers by the Federal Government. A source close to the marketers’ association put the arrears at between N30 billion and N40 billion. MOMAN President and Chief Executive Officer of Oando Petroleum Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu, who confirmed the agreement, said the government has agreed to clear the about N58.4 billion ($400 million).

FG Insists on Subsidy Removal, Deregulation

The Federal Government on Thursday insisted that it would not go back on the removal of fuel subsidy and the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry, saying that subsidy removal and deregulation would stem recurrent fuel shortages. The Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, also ruled out the possibility of the Federal Government building new refineries. He said that the FG had put in place an interim measure to pay the marketers subsidies for imports, but the government did not have the money to bear the burden for the whole year.

NNPC To Remit N450b Withheld Funds With Federation Account

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Alhaji Muhammed Barkindo, on Thursday admitted that the corporation withheld N450.39 billion due to the Federation Account, and requested for a month’s grace to submit repayment plans. Also Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to refund the one per cent commission it paid itself for handling the Paris Club debt deal back in 2005.

Govt Arraigns Man for Possession of Rocket Launcher

A man arrested by security operatives in Kaduna State, Mr. Amos Akila, has been arraigned before the state's Chief Magistrate Court One over alleged possession of a rocket launcher. He is said to be the ringleader of a gun-running syndicate, which smuggles arms into the country from some neighbouring countries. The security men arrested the accused after receiving intelligence reports.

Politicians Accused in Canadian Woman Kidnap

Three prominent politicians have been named in the recent abduction of a Canadian woman in. The revelation emerged last week, after the lure of a handsome ransom unmasked the hostage-taking mafia. Meanwhile, the state government has vowed to bring the three politicians identified as the kidnap master-minds to book. Meanwhile, three members of the seven-man gang kidnap were on Thursday arraigned before a magistrate court.

INTERNATIONAL

Iranian-American Journalist gets Suspended Sentence

American-born journalist, Roxana Saberi, walked free on Monday after an Iranian appeals court cut her eight-year jail sentence for spying for the United States to a suspended two-year term. Saberi, who was jailed on April 18, would be allowed to leave the Iran, but it was not immediately clear when she would do so, according to her lawyers and a judiciary source. The United States said the espionage charges against Saberi, who moved to Iran six years ago, were baseless, and demanded her immediate release.

Pakistanis Flee Swat as Death Toll Hits 700

Thousands of people have fled Pakistan’s violence-hit Swat district after the army briefly lifted a curfew. Local residents trapped by fighting between troops and Taleban militants were reportedly given a few hours to leave. About 700 insurgents were feared killed as Pakistani warplanes, Monday, bombed suspected militant positions in a stronghold close to the capital. The tough military response has been commended by the United States (U.S.), which wants al-Qaeda and Taliban militants rooted out from havens where they can plan attacks on American and NATO forces in Afghanistan as well as destabilise nuclear-armed Pakistan.

Brazil's Floods Recede, Render 300,000 Homeless

Flood waters have receded in some inundated towns across northern Brazil, but the number of homeless rose above 300,000 and two people were missing after an overloaded canoe overturned in swift waters. About 40 deaths had been confirmed in northern Brazil's worst flooding in decades. There have been widespread complaints that the government was too slow in delivering food and water. There were reports of looting and residents refusing to leave flooded homes for fear of thieves. But the gradual retreat of high water in many places boosted spirits.

378 Die as Sri Lankan Military Continues Offensive against Tamil Tigers

At least 378 people have been killed by continuing shelling from the Sri Lankan army, a health official disclosed. The doctor, working in the conflict zone, said 1,122 others had been injured - and more bodies were on beaches and by the sides of roads. The army denies shelling the area, which the government has designated a “safe zone” for civilians, describing the reports of government shelling as propaganda of the Tamil Tigers. The United Nations (UN) has condemned a "bloodbath" in Sri Lanka's northern war zone after two days of shelling.

Bomber Kills 7 in Afghanistan

A car bomber targeted a U.S. base in eastern Afghanistan, killing seven people Wednesday, mostly Afghan civilians and injured 21 others. U.S. military and local officials also reported fighting in the southeastern province of Paktika on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, a Taliban suicide bomb squad stormed the city of Khost, close to the border with Pakistan, prompting a fierce six-hour battle with U.S. troops. At least 10 suicide bombers were killed in the attacks, which also left five troops and four civilians dead, Afghan police said.

50 killed in Sri Lanka Hospital Attack

Shells hit the only hospital in Sri Lanka’s northern war zone on Wednesday, killing at least 50 people in the second such attack in two days, a doctor said. The military has denied firing any heavy weapons in recent weeks as it pushed to finish off the Tamil Tiger rebels, but Human Rights Watch said both sides were using the estimated 50,000 civilians packed into the last rebel-held territory as “cannon fodder.” The Red Cross said one of its workers was killed in shelling on Wednesday.

113 Killed as Fighting Rages in Somalia

Militiamen loyal to the government continued to battle Islamist al Shabaab fighters in Somalia despite calls for a halt to the country's worst fighting for months. Since the weekend, the capital Mogadishu has been rocked by mortar and machine gun fire as Islamist rebels try to topple President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's government. The violence has killed at least 113 civilians, and thousands have fled the city.

Kenyan Aristocrat Jailed for Manslaughter

A Kenyan judge, Thursday, sentenced one of the country's most famous white aristocrats to eight months in prison for fatally shooting a suspected poacher on his family estate. Justice Muga Apondi said he did not take race, color, wealth or status into account in deciding the sentence for Cholmondeley. Cholmondeley had previously been accused of shooting a game ranger who was out of uniform. That case was dropped because of a lack of evidence.

Guinea Forces, Rioters Clash

Guinean security forces fired on rioters in the capital Conakry Saturday, wounding at least two people, in the first major public disorder since a military junta seized power in December, a police source said. A police station and several police vehicles were attacked in the riot which was sparked by an armed robbery on a local shop by thieves dressed in military uniform.. Captain Moussa Dadis Camara came to power in a bloodless December coup following the death of former President Lansana Conte. He is battling to maintain stability in the country.

U.S Natural Gas Reserve Gets a Boost

A massive natural-gas discovery in northern Louisiana heralds a big shift in the nation's energy landscape. Even conservative estimates suggest the Louisiana discovery, could hold some 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. That's the equivalent of 33 billion barrels of oil, or 18 years' worth of current U.S. oil production. Some industry executives think the field could be several times that size.

Four Found Guilty of Aiding Escape of Madrid Bombers

A Spanish court convicted four men on Tuesday but acquitted 10 others of charges of aiding the escape of four suspects from the 2004 Madrid train bombings which killed 191 people and wounded 1,800 others. Most were arrested in June 2005, a year after. But one was later caught and convicted in Morocco; another was thought to have died in Iraq, while a third was among seven key train bomb suspects who blew themselves up in Madrid suburb as police closed in on their hideout a month after the train bombings.

Suspected Nazi War Criminal Faces Charges in Germany

Suspected Nazi war criminal, John Demjanjuk, 89, in a Munich jail, is facing charges of being an accessory to the deaths of 29,000 Jews in World War II. He has denied accusations that he worked as a guard in the Sobibor Nazi death camp. Demjanjuk, who settled in the US in 1952, said he was captured by the Germans in his native Ukraine during the war and kept as a prisoner of war.