Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 35

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

MEND Threatens Reprisal Attack on JTF

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened to carry out a retaliatory attack on the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Bayelsa State, for allegedly killing 12 passengers, including students and children in a boat, penultimate Sunday, along Yenagoa-Fropa waterway. MEND also called on the state government to pay the families of the slain compensations. But the JTF has said nobody was hurt in the incident as its soldiers only fired warning shots in the air when the boat approached. As MEND issues its threats, the Ijaw Youth Council has given the Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, an ultimatum to investigate the incident, just as it called on the National Assembly to probe the activities of the JTF, while the state chapter of the Civil Liberty Society (CLO) noted that the action of the JTF has re-affirmed the call for their withdrawal from the region.

Militants Seize Ship In Rivers, 8 Crew Members Missing

Militants have struck again in Rivers State, hijacking a supply vessel, ‘WAO Benue’ with eight Nigerian crew members on board. It was gathered that the vessel, which belongs to West Africa Offshore, an indigenous oil service company, was returning from Delta State to Onne Port in Rivers State, when it was attacked near the Forge Island along the Bonny Channel. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the hijack.

MEND Asks Julius Berger to Complete Projects in N'Delta

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has called on construction giant, Julius Berger to return to its abandoned projects in the Niger Delta. The company had abandoned its projects in the region following the kidnap of two of its expatriate staff in Port Harcourt. MEND had then threatened to attack the company if it failed to pull out of Abuja since it withdrew from the Niger Delta due to insecurity.

Abia Council Boss Kidnapped

Gunmen reportedly kidnapped chairman of the Obingwa LGA of Abia state, Mr. Kelechi Nwankpa on Tuesday. Nwankpa was reportedly kidnapped on his way to Umuahia along the Aba- Port Harcourt expressway. The kidnappers are demanding a N150 million ransom.

Gunmen Abduct Israeli in Port Harcourt

An Israeli, Mr. Ehud Arny, working for Gilmore Engineering Ltd was, Tuesday night, kidnapped from his Port Harcourt residence by four armed men. The Police confirmed the kidnap and said every agency had been mobilised to ensure his early and safe release.

FG Approves N7bn for Okrika Jetties

Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved contract worth about N7billion for the rehabilitation of the Okrika jetties A and B. FEC stated that the essence of the contract is to facilitate loading activities in the South Eastern part of the country.

Four Killed In Militants, Navy Gun Duel

Four suspects were reportedly killed in Rivers state on Wednesday when a naval patrol ambushed a band of suspected militants at the Orashi River in Ahoada West LGA. Seven of the suspects escaped into the river as the power of the military overwhelmed them.

OPTS to Invest N18 Billion for Niger Delta Development

Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) has earmarked N18 billion for investment in the Niger Delta as part of their social responsibility for the development of the region in 2008. The Chairman of the OPTS, Mr Basil Omiyi who disclosed this, said that the section spent over N15 billion on individual community projects in 2007.

Asari-Dokubo Goes into Hiding, Alleges Threat to Life

Leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari, has gone underground, accusing the Federal Government of plotting to kill him. Asari said the plan to eliminate him was part of a possible plot to destabilise the Niger Delta and suppress the sustained agitation for resource control by the people.

Akpabio Lauded Over Welfare of Bakassi Returnees

Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has been commended for the attention he has given to the welfare of Bakassi returnees in the state. Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) which gave the commendation also called on the Federal Government to ensure that adequate assistance was given to the state governments of the returnees. Akwa Ibom claims to have recorded over 50, 000 returnees.Meanwhile, the returnees say that the creation of new LGA for them was the only way the FG could assuage their feelings.

Imoke Wins C'River Re-Run Polls

Senator Liyel Imoke of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has emerged winner of the re-run governorship election in Cross River State. However, the agent of ANPP, Mr. Celestine Awoh, rejected the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that the result does not reflect what happened in the field.

Kidnapper Feigns Insanity to Lure Victim

A kidnapper, in Nsit Atai LGA of Akwa Ibom State, was recently nabbed by the police, while feigning insanity, to lure his victim, a daughter of an Akwa Ibom state lawmaker, out of her house. According to the lawmaker, his Personal Assistant who witnessed the scene invited the Police who arrested the impostor and one of his colleagues.

Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers

Five persons have been held by the police in Rivers State over their alleged plot to abduct the managing director of a Port Harcourt-based firm, Santa Sede Equipment Company. The Police spokesperson, Rita Inoma-Abbey, said the suspects have confessed to the act and are assisting the police in their investigations.

Bakassi Ceding: Cameroon Moves To Boosts Oil Output

Cameroon has moved swiftly to reap from the huge dividend of the ceding of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula by Nigeria penultimate week, calling for the registration of more oil exploration and production companies to help it take full advantage of the development of the hydrocarbon in the area.

Police Arrest Man for Attempting To Sell Son

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a man for attempting to sell his one-month-old son. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Rita Abbey, said the suspect had confessed that hardship led him into the act. She said the intended buyer disappeared when the police closed in.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

FG Takes Over Prosecution of 14 Filipinos

Attorney-General of the Federation has taken over the prosecution of the 14 Filipinos that were arrested for crude oil theft by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta July 10, in Bayelsa State from the Attorney-General of Delta State. The prosecution of the 14 has been swamped in controversy. They were charged to a Magistrate Court in Warri Delta State and ordered to be remanded in prison custody, only for them to proceed to the Federal High Court, Benin City, which granted them bail.

Uduaghan's Office Robbery: Chief Accountant, Others Arrested

Delta state police command has arrested four persons including the Chief and Senior Accountants in the Governor Uduaghan’s office in connection with the robbery that took place two weeks ago where 2.6 million and other valuable documents were carted away.

Police Smash Robbery Syndicate

Men of the Edo State Anti- Robbery squad, Thursday, paraded a four-member gang of notorious robbers alleged to be terrorising travellers on the Benin/Akure road. The suspects were arrested after the police received a distress call that hoodlums had blocked the Benin/Akure road and were robbing travellers.

Youths Will Disrupt Proposed Gas Pipeline to Lagos Unless..., IDA Warns

Chairman of the Iwere Development Association (IDA), an Itsekiri group in Warri, Delta State, Comrade Omolubi Newewumi, has warned that the Niger Delta youths would disrupt the proposed gas plant pipeline from any of the Niger-Delta States to Lagos. Omolubi declared that blood would flow unless the government ensures that the same pipeline they used in siphoning oil to the North is used to bring in clean water to the Niger-Delta.

Student Killed in Poly Crisis

A student of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, was penultimate Sunday killed by unknown gunmen. The victim was the nephew of Mr Sauaibu Alasa, Welfare Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP). It was gathered that the assailants allegedly came for his uncle. No motive had been established, but Alasa said it may be connected with internal wrangling within the ASUP, and the Polytechnic management.

Elumelu Donates Vehicle to Police

The member representing Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency in Delta State at the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu has donated a brand new Peugeot Expert vehicle to the Delta State Police Command.  He made the donation to help the police curb the incessant cases of armed robbery in Issele-Uku town in Aniocha North LGA and neighbouring villages.

Divestment: Chevron Workers Say No Going Back On Payment Structure

The controversy trailing the purported divestment of the downstream arm of Chevron in Nigeria may be escalating following the Labour Union's insistence on getting its members' equitable share of the value added statement. Chevron's arm of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), expressed fears that it was yet to know the fate of its members in the company when the divestment takes place. Besides, the workers who have down-tooled for over a week, alleged that Chevron management had refused to settle the employees according to industry practice and labour law.

Warri Refinery May be Shut Down

The celebration of the recent turn-around of the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) may be cut short if the Ekpan Indigenous Contractors Association carry out their threat to seal up the company. The association accused the WRPC management of marginalizing the people of Ekpan community as the bonafide stakeholders.

UNIBEN Deputy Registrar Killed

The internal crisis rocking the academic community of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) over who succeeds the present vice-chancellor, took a tragic dimension on Monday, when unknown gunmen suspected to be hired assassins shot dead the Deputy Registrar of the University, Dr. John Ighodaro. The killers dumped him inside his Honda Jeep without taking anything from the vehicle. Edo State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Peter Ogboi, who confirmed the incident, said the command had commenced investigation.

Force Can’t Solve N’Delta Crisis – Anyaoku

Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has said that the crisis in the Niger-Delta cannot be solved by the use of armed force, but through dialogue and negotiations. Anyaoku, who said this at the first information summit on Media, Peace and Development, in Delta state also implored the Government to consider the problem in the Niger-Delta region as a national problem.

DESOPADEC Boss in Trouble, Dragged to Court

Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Wellington Okirika may be in for another fresh trouble for allegedly using militants to kidnap and manhandled a Warri based legal practitioner, Dr. Bello Orubebe even as he is being dragged before an Effurun High Court by one Akpos Menze for allegedly extorting the sum of N4.1million from him. Dr. Orubebe alleged that Okirika's action against him was as a result of his refusal to back out from the case.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Court Jails Man for Stealing N1.5m with ATM Card

A Lagos High Court has sentenced a middle-aged man, Christopher Chima Chukwu to 156 days imprisonment for stealing N1.5 million.   In his judgement, Justice Oyewole said although the defendant was given the ATM of one Christopher Uzoma Chukwu in error, the defendant knowingly used it to make various withdrawals on numerous occasions.

Osun Drivers Beat 10 FRSC Operatives

About 10 marshals of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), in Osun State were seriously injured when members of the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), last week unleashed terror on them over alleged extortion. Earlier, the transporters had threatened to withdraw their vehicles from the roads from Monday over alleged extortion from them by the officers of FRSC.

NDLEA Arrests Guinean Lady, Four Others with 11.24kg Cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested five suspected drug traffickers, including a Guinean woman, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos with substances suspected to be cocaine weighing 11.244kg. The woman said that her husband abandoned her with three children and that was why she indulged in the illicit act.

10 Die in Iloko Ijesa Early Morning Auto Crash

About 10 people lost their lives in a midnight accident involving a trailer and an Abuja bound luxury bus. The accident which occurred at Iloko-Ijesa junction left the drivers of the vehicles trapped in the wreck, while corpses littered the scene. Several others were maimed in the wreck.

28 Officers Sue Army Authorities over Detention

Twenty-eight military officers who served in the United Nations peacekeeping force in Liberia have dragged the Nigerian Army to Court over their alleged unlawful detention shortly after they protested the non-payment of their entitlements after they returned. The plaintiffs are praying the court for an order directing the army authorities to release them with immediate effect from detention and admit them to bail. The presiding judge, Justice P.I Odunwo, has fixed September 4, 2008 for hearing of the motion on notice.

Fire Guts Kwara Assembly

A section of the Kwara State House of Assembly was on Sunday night razed by an inferno, which destroyed property worth millions of naira. Men of the state fire services who got to the scene about 50 minutes later prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the edifice.

Two Feared Dead, Four Injured As Robbers Raid Bank

A gang of six armed robbers stormed a branch of Skye Bank in Lagos, on Monday and took away, unspecified amount of money. Two persons were killed during the operation while four others sustained injuries. But police authorities denied the report that two person were killed. But in another bank robbery incident, the robbers met their waterloo in the police who not only foiled the robbery, but also killed four of the robbers.

Panic as Policeman Kills Pedestrian In Modakeke

An unidentified man was killed by a police stray bullet in Modakeke community of Osun State when a policeman was allegedly trying to extort money from a commercial motorcyclist. The situation caused tension in the community as Policemen kept off the streets and deserted their stations for fear of being attacked by youths of the community. Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joshua Olayemi, said the police were investigating the incident, which he described as illegal.

IG Orders Police To Find Ogundeji's Killers

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, has directed the Lagos State Police Command to fish out the killers of Mr. Paul Abayomi Ogundeji, member of the Editorial Board of ThisDay newspaper, who was killed in Lagos on Sunday, August 17, 2008. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, said that he was killed by bandits. But Ogundeji's employers petitioned the IG, describing the police story as unsatisfactory. Ogundeji was finally buried on Thursday, amidst wailing by his family and friends.

4 Policemen, 3 Civilians Feared Killed in OPC/Drivers’ Clash

A violent clash between Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and men of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ibadan, Thursday, left four policemen and three civilians dead. Trouble started when OPC members in a bus heading to Osogbo from Lagos, ran into a traffic snarl along the Ibadan/Ife road. It was learnt that one of the female occupants of the OPC bus alighted from the bus to control traffic, and in the process, the vehicle had a slight brush with an unmarked NURTW bus, which degenerated into a fight.

Gunmen Shoot another ThisDay Journalist in Lagos

Gunmen in Lagos shot another journalist working with Thisday Newspaper at the weekend. The Journalist, Femi Solaja, was shot at Oshodi as he was returning from a party. His car was snatched by the 5-man gang that attacked him. He survived the attack.

Boy, 15, Escapes From Kidnappers

A 15-year-old SS2 student, Onyekachi Kezie, kidnapped by unknown persons early in July in Lagos, has escaped from the kidnappers. His mother said that with the aid of a handset in his possession, the teenager was able to communicate with her on what had happened

GENERAL

New Service Chiefs Assume Office

The newly appointed service Chiefs of Nigeria military on Thursday took over duty from their predecessors, identifying discipline and the situation in the troubled Niger Delta as their main challenge and vowed to address such issues with diligence.

PTDF Recovers $14m from Transnational Bank

Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said on Thursday that about $14 million out of the $20 million lodged with the defunct Transnational Bank under controversial circumstances during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo had been recovered.  The Executive Secretary of the fund, Alhaji Kabir Muhammed, who disclosed this, said the money was part of the funds allegedly authorised to be transferred from the PTDF’s accounts and invested in some banks by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Scientists Re-Programme Cells, Raise Hopes On Replacement Tissues

Scientists have successfully transformed one type of cell into another in live mice through re-programming. The breakthrough opens the door for growing replacement tissues to treat a variety of diseases. The cell identity-switch turned ordinary pancreas cells into the type that churns out insulin, essential for preventing diabetes.

Banks lose N7.3bn To Cyber crime Annually

It has been revealed that Nigerian banks lose over N7.3 billion annually to cyber crimes, even as available data estimates that the global economy loses more than $200 billion annually to cyber crime, which threatens world peace and security.

NDLEA Calls For Stiffer Penalties for Drug Offenders

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, has again called for stiffer penalties for drug offenders. Giade argued that light penalties encouraged that trade.

Nigeria Loses Billions of Dollars to Poor LNG Deal

Disparity in prevailing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fiscal terms and those of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Act of 1989 has caused the economy to lose billions of dollars, with no end in sight to the losses. While prevailing international market price averaged $12/Million British Thermal Units (MBTU) for June and July spot market delivery, the NLNG fiscal term is between $0.7 - $3.00/MBTU.

NAMA Assures On Radar Coverage Project

Safety in the nation's airspace received a boost last week with the clearing of the radar head for the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) from the sea port after several months of wasting away. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has reassured that the Lagos end of the project would be completed in a few months.

EFCC Dismisses 11 Officers For Fraud, Forgery

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sacked of 11 of its operatives. The commission said that the officials engaged in forgery of academic qualifications and other acts of fraud, while an officer to be prosecuted allegedly connived with other persons to defraud a suspect in the EFCC custody.

Flood: 100 Houses Destroyed

At least 100 houses, cattle markets, farmlands and food items worth millions of naira have reportedly been destroyed by flood in Fune LGA of Yobe State, penultimate week. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that flood in parts of West Africa is intensifying health risks for millions of people and adding to the impact of the food price crisis and called for international aid.

Govt Wants Standardization of Tanker Drivers' Operations

Disturbed by the unruly behaviour of tanker drivers on the nation's highways, which put other road users at great risk, President Yar'Adua has challenged stakeholders in the transport industry to draw up a standard that would allow only qualified tanker and trailer drivers to ply the highways.

New Airline, Afrijet, to Crash Domestic Airfare

An airline operator, Afrijet Airlines, with the objective of offering affordable airfare has taken delivery of two aircraft specifically for domestic flights. A director of the airline, Alhaji Muhammed Turkur, last weekend, said air travellers to expect significant reduction in domestic airfare. According to him, Afrijet will not depend solely on ticket sales but introduce some novel ideas to shore up the airlines' revenue base.

KPMG Report: Lack of Skilled Personnel Threatens Oil Industry

Some of the world’s largest national oil companies (“Titan” NOCs) face a major skills shortage over the next decade as they struggle to replace their aging workforce, according to a survey released recently by KPMG International.

US Talks Tough on Nigeria’s Anti-graft War

An official of the US government said that America’s continued support for Nigeria's war against corruption would now be based on the progress made by the relevant institutions in prosecuting all forms of corruption.

Gas Flaring: FG Blames Oil Multinationals

The Federal Government has blamed multinational oil companies for the delay in the termination of the flaring of gas in the country as the companies opted to pay the fine imposed as penalty for the continuing flaring of gas in the country instead of taking the steps to stop it. Experts have ranked Nigeria and South Africa as the main emitters of greenhouse gases in Africa.

Another Nigerian Murdered in London

A Nigerian, Ezekiel Ojo, 24, was last week shot dead in London. He was killed just streets away from where a teenager, Ryan Bravo, was gunned down on August 6. While police said Bravo’s death was not thought to be linked to Ojo's, they are not ruling out possibilities.

Nigerian Airports Make N15b, Experts Urge Airline Mergers

Nigeria's aviation industry may not have the best of facilities to attract business boom, but revenue figures by Minister of Transport, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, reveal a buoyant sector.  In her presentation of the nation's profile in the aviation industry, she disclosed that its 21 airports generate N15.59 billion yearly.

CBN Mops N10b from Circulation

A disclosure came, Monday, from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that it has withdrawn N10 billion from circulation through the sale of treasury bills. The bank withdrew N63.66 billion from circulation two weeks back.

N1.5 Trillion Missing in NNPC Account –Speaker

The annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association [NBA] opened in Abuja on Monday with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, revealing that N1.5 trillion generated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] in the last 10 years was not remitted into the Federal Account. He disclosed that the Lower House was coming out with a law to regulate the way government revenue is spent.

FG Releases N3.2bn For Barracks Renovation

The Federal Government has released N3.2 billion to the Presidential Committee on Barracks Rehabilitation (PBCR) for the rehabilitation of five military barracks. The Chairman of PCBR, Alhaji Sani Gidado, said that in line with the Federal Government’s policy, no contract would be carried over to next year, insisting that all jobs must be completed before December 31.

Son Kills Father In Adamawa

A Policeman, Sgt. Amos Kake, was allegedly murdered on Sunday by his son in Mararaba village of Adamawa state. His son had accused him of neglecting the family. The police have confirmed the incident and the arrest of his suspected killer.

Nigeria to Start Using Compressed Gas - Minister

Chief Emmanuel Odusina, Nigeria's Minister of State for Energy (Gas), has hinted that with effect from December motorists in the country will start using compressed gas as fuel. He accused previous administrations of not showing enough will power to end gas flaring in the country. The minister also disclosed that oil firms have been asked to provide a plan on how to end gas flaring in the country.

U.S. Will Not Support Military Option in N'Delta -Carrington

Former United States of America (USA) Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, has declared that the US government may not back military option in the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, even though it is over-heating the American economy.

3-Year Jail for Owners of Uninsured Buildings

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) said the law had now stipulated a penalty of N250, 000 or three-year imprisonment or both for anybody who fails to insure his or her building. Likewise, an occupier of such building will be penalised to the tune of a minimum of N100, 000 or one-year imprisonment or both.

Assassins Kill Zamfara District Head, Guard

Suspected hired killers murdered the 47-year-old District Head of Magamin Tarko in Zamfara State, Alhaji Abubakar Maiyawa Dantoro Magami, at his residence in the early hours of last Sunday. They also killed Magami's guard, Mallam Musa Abubakar.

Policeman Die As Robbers Lay Siege On Adamawa

The police in Adamawa on Tuesday shot dead a suspected armed robber on Mubi-Gella road, according to the Acting Police Area Commander in Mubi, Mr Alfa Jibrin.  Jibrin said that the suspect was gunned down during a robbery while other members escaped, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. The police boss also confirmed the death of a policeman who was shot same day in an ambush by robbers on the Mubi-Yola road.

Man Machetes 3 To Death In Yobe

A middle-aged man, Kaigama Jibiko, went berserk on Monday in Yobe State, macheting to death three people. Jibiko entered the Jakusko LG secretariat where he proceeded to hit everyone he met. Three of the victims died on the spot while four others reportedly died in hospital. Jibiko alleged that his friends poisoned the Indian Hemp he smoked and made him temporarily mad and said that he was not aware of what he was doing then.

NAFDAC Alerts Public On Fake Baby Food

A syndicate that deals in fake baby food in Nigeria has been smashed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which has also started mopping up of the fake products. Director-General of NAFDAC, Dora Akunyili, on Wednesday disclosed that the fake products were identified in Lagos, Ibadan and Kano. The fake and substandard 'SMA Gold first Infant Milk' in 450 gram tin has Batch No: 6J02SG06 as well Production and Expiry dates of 2/12/07 and 2/12/2009.  Any suspected product should be reported to the nearest NAFDAC office or a telephone call/text message can be sent to 08023029700, 08033091821 and 08034514470, 08033647885.

7 Die After Drinking Fura Da Nono

Seven members of a family were recently confirmed dead in a village in Anka LGA of Zamfara State after taking a millet drink popularly known as Fura da Nono, reportedly prepared by one of the deceased. In a related development 28 persons were hospitalised in separate hospitals in Yorro LGA of Taraba State after taking a meal of beans. Samples of the beans have been taken for laboratory analysis by NAFDAC.

N45bn BASA Fund: NCAA Ready For Airports Rehabilitation

Director-General of the Nigeria Civil   Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, has disclosed that the N45 billion Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) fund would be used to upgrade infrastructure in the nation's aviation industry. Demuren noted that the amount would go a long way to solving pressing infrastructural needs of the sector.

100 Nigerian Immigrants Die Off Spanish Coast

Another disaster has befallen Nigerian migrants seeking greener pastures in Europe as about 100 of them were reportedly killed while attempting to cross the dangerous sea into Spain. Spanish authorities said several died from hunger, thirst, exposure to the elements, while others were pushed overboard by boat operators fleeing from coast guards.

Bill on Legal Aid For Robbery Suspects Underway

Nigerian Legal Aid Council said in Abuja on Monday that the National Assembly (NASS) is expected to pass into law soon a bill to end restriction on legal assistance to indigent armed robbery suspects. The essence of the bill, according to the council's Director-General, Lectitia Nwaka, was to widen the scope of the council in the areas of offering free legal aid for poor suspects.

Nigeria Set To Meet IMO Standard On Safer Maritime Environment

Nigeria's efforts towards meeting the specifications of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in the area of ensuring cleaner and safer maritime environment may now be within reach as a N2.4 billion marine pollution control plant was installed at Snake Island in Lagos, to remove hazardous wastes from ocean going ships, arriving the country.

INTERNATIONAL

UK Solar Plane Flies Unmanned

A United Kingdom (UK)-built solar-powered plane, Zephyr-6 has set an endurance record for a flight by an unmanned aircraft for three days running on batteries charges in sunlight. Flights like Zephyr-6 could also be used to relay battlefield communications and offer advantages over traditional aircraft and even satellites.

US Warship Reaches Georgian Port

A US warship has arrived in the Georgian port of Batumi, carrying the first delivery of aid supplies.  Russian forces are still in control of the military port of Poti, after Russia withdrew most of its troops from the country. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, has urged Moscow to pull out those forces too.  Meanwhile, a train carrying fuel has exploded after hitting a mine near Gori, Georgia’s interior ministry said. Georgia said there had been several explosions there as Russian troops, on leaving Gori, had left a stockpile of ammunitions taken from the Georgian army.

Opposition Member Becomes Zimbabwe Parliament's Speaker

In a major political breakthrough, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Monday won the Speakership slot in Zimbabwe parliament. However, the victory came two hours after two of the MDC's lawmakers were detained by police. President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party did not put up a candidate. This could indicate internal divisions and a lack of consensus within the ZANU-PF. The opposition has also vowed not to join any new government with President Robert Mugabe until power-sharing talks are concluded.

Floods Cut Off One Million In India

Devastating floods hit part of Northern India on Monday, leaving about one million people stranded and completely cut off, while authorities struggled to get aid to victims. The Bihar state government issued a plea to relief agencies to step in and help get food and shelter to the residents.

Common Wealth Votes N1.4tr for ICT in Africa

African member-states are to get N1.4 trillion ($12 billion) from the Commonwealth for the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the region. The money is from the N3.5 trillion ($30 billion), which the body has earmarked for the development of the sector among its member nations.

28 Die As Suicide Bomber Strikes Iraqi Police Recruits

A suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest on Tuesday blew himself up in a crowd of Iraqi police recruits, killing 28 people and wounding 45. Local police Chief Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Khalifa said that in Jalawla, in central Iraq, the suicide bomber rushed into a crowd of potential recruits before detonating his explosives-laden vest.

North Korea Halts Nuclear Disablement over U.S Terror List

North Korea has stopped disabling its nuclear plants and will consider restoring them because the United States (U.S.) has failed to remove it from a terrorism blacklist, reports said. The communist state accused Washington of an "outright violation" of a six-nation nuclear disarmament deal and said work to make the plutonium-producing plants unusable had halted on August 14.

30 Feared Dead In Ugandan Bus Accident

About 30 persons are feared dead after a bus plunged into Aswa River on the Gulu and Pader district border in northern Uganda. The accident is the third this year on the rusty bridge, which has no rail guards.

Hijackers of Darfur Plane Surrender in Libya

The two hijackers who commandeered a jetliner from Sudan's Darfur region and diverted it to a remote desert airstrip in southern Libya surrendered after a 22-hour stand-off. Sun Air Executive Director, Murtala Hassan, said officials at the airport in Kufra, Libya, informed him of the surrender. He added that there were only two hijackers but that others may have slipped out with the 87 passengers who were released earlier.

Oil Prices Rise Above $118

Oil prices jumped above 118 dollars on Wednesday as Tropical Storm Gustav posed a risk to US energy facilities and after a surprise drop to crude inventories in the United States, analysts said. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in October, climbed $2.13 to $118.40 a barrel. London's Brent North Sea crude for October, rose to $1.74 to $116.37.

95 Die In Kyrgyzstan Plane Crash

Barely a week after a Spanish airline plane veered off the runway on take-off at Madrid's Barajas Airport, killing 154 people and injuring 18, a passenger aircraft with more than 123 persons on board crashed last Sunday, leaving more than 95 of them dead. The disaster occurred shortly after take-off from the airport in the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek, a civil aviation official said. Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country west of China.