Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 35

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

2 Killed as Robbers Invade Banks in Awka
…FG Deploys 600 Mobile Policemen in Anambra

At least two persons were feared dead with no fewer than 12 others badly wounded on Monday when dare-devil armed robbers struck four banks in Awka, Anambra State. The Police promptly arrived at the scene and engaged the robbers in a gun duel, after which the robbers fled in a snatched bus. The two persons feared dead are a female customer of one of the banks and a security guard at another bank. The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Uzor Amakulor, confirmed the incident. Meanwhile Police authorities have deployed 600 mobile policemen in the stateto beef up security, according to Amakulor. He said that the deployment was part of measures to curb the high crime rate in the state.

Defence Minister, Alaibe Warns MEND

Defence Minister, Major General Godwin Abbe (rtd), has spoken against threat of renewed attacks by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND). MEND had last week said it would resume attacks on oil installations, alleging that arms that had supposedly been surrendered by militants are owned by the government and did not form part of the guns held by its fighters. Abbe said the militants would lose an opportunity for peace if they fail to accept the amnesty deal before expiration, warning that the authorities would not fail to deploy the armed forces to curtail insurgence from any part of Nigeria. The Honourary Special Adviser to President Yar'Adua on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, described the MEND’s decision as “unfortunate”, given concessions granted by the government.

FG Plans Training Centre for Port Harcourt

As part of the implementation strategies of the amnesty granted to the Niger Delta militants and to tackle restiveness, the Federal Government would soon complete a skill acquisition centre to reduce unemployment. Executive Secretary of PTDF, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, disclosed this Tuesday, saying that the project is billed to accommodate 500 Nigerians with or without formal education seeking to acquire skills that will make them useful. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Ufot Ekaette, said that the centre would be opened within the next one month.

Robbers Invade Bank in Rivers

A gang of robbers in the early hours of Wednesday stormed a commercial bank in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State, blowing off some sections of the building with dynamites and shooting sporadically into the building. It was learnt that one of the thieves was gunned down by security men at the bank. It was, however, not known if the robbers succeeded in removing money from the vault of the bank.

Fire Guts Multi-million Naira Goods in Ebonyi

The Eke Market in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, was on Wednesday razed by fire, which destroyed stalls and goods worth millions of naira. The New Yam festival in Afikpo, which prompted the shutting down of the market, with all the entrances locked up before the fire started caused difficulty to gain entrance. Chairman, Afikpo North LGA, Mr. Obinna Agha, called on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to come to the aid of the victims. He commended the construction giant, Julius Berger, for its quick response.

Soldiers Kill Man over Ezza/Ezillo War

A thirty year old man, Clement Nwode, has been reported killed by soldiers in Abakaliki, as the suspected soldiers alleged that he was involved in the war between Ezza/Ezillo communities. Soldiers have been keeping guard in the communities since May 2008, when the clash broke-out between the two communities. Eye witness at the scene of the incident, said that when the deceased was returning, some people told him that some soldiers were waiting for him, but the soldiers quickly opened fire on him.

Families Drag Police to Court for Alleged Extra Judicial Killing of Two

A Port Harcourt High Court has granted an application to enforce the fundamental human rights of Michael Akor and Michael Onyebuchi Igwe, who were allegedly murdered in police custody in July in Port Harcourt. The plaintiffs want the court to declare that the extra-judicial killing of Michael Akor and Michael Onyebuchi Igwe, allegedly by two police officers, Mr. Akaefu and Emeka, was unlawful, unconstitutional and a violation of the deceased fundamental human right to life.

Kidnappers Release Transport Mogul

The Onitsha based transport mogul, Chief Sir G. U. Okeke who was kidnapped, penultimate Sunday, regained his freedom on Monday. Chief Okeke maintained that the kidnappers whom he said carried sophisticated weapons were angry the way the economy of the country was being run, adding that their action was a way of expressing their disenchantment with the entire system. He admitted that a ransom was paid for his release.

Police Gun Kills 10, Injures 20 at Masquerade Festival

A policeman’s gun exploded and killed at least 10 people in Amokwe town in Udi LGA of Enugu State, during the town’s annual masquerade festival. It was gathered that Eze had invited some policemen to add glamour to the celebration by firing into the air, but one of the policemen forgot that he cocked his rifle. The gun exploded and killed 10 people while 20 others were critically wounded. The police sergeant narrowly escaped death by the whisker as an angry mob attempted to lynch him.

Abducted Octogenarian Regains Freedom

Kidnappers of 76 year old Mrs Ibiwari Brown, who was abducted two months ago in Rivers State, have released her. Ibiwari Brown was kidnapped on the 18th of June, 2009 from her home in Abalama, Asari-Toru LGA. The kidnappers are still at large.

MEND Arms Maintenance Chief, Others Surrender Guns, Accept Amnesty

Twenty more militia men led by Nwaeze Adiele, a purported gun maintenance expert of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), penultimate Sunday surrendered their guns and ammunition in Rivers State. So far, some 176 documented repentant militias have reported to commence the rehabilitation process. Adiele submitted a total of eight AK 47 assault rifles with 156 ammunition, one General Purpose Machine gun, one rocket-propelled grenade launcher, one SMG, one Barretta pistol and dynamite.

Cross River Govt Seeks Aid for Disaster Victims

Several parts of Cross River State have been ravaged by rain storm, flood or erosion, which have sacked many communities and rendered thousands homeless. The Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Vincent Aquah, who disclosed called for urgent intervention before the situation assumed a worrisome dimension. Aquah said the disaster that struck in Ogoja and its environs was beyond the capacity of the state and appealed to spirited individuals and organisations to assist the state government to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

Suspected Fraudsters, Kidnappers Arrested in Enugu

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Enugu on Wednesday night arrested two suspected kidnappers and fraudsters who demanded a N6 million ransom from the Chairman of Nkanu-East Local Council, Mr. Ejike Ani, to forestall his abduction and elimination for attempting to seek a second-term in office. The suspects, who were armed with a pump-action gun loaded with cartridges and pairs of bullet proof vests, were arrested in a hotel in Government Reserved Area (GRA) while waiting for Ani to bring the money they requested.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

JTF Nabs 9-Man Kidnap Gang in Delta

Operatives of the military Joint Task Force, on Wednesday morning arrested a 9-man heavily armed gang at a hotel in Udu LGA of Delta State. Parading the suspects, Commander, Sector one of the JTF, Effurun, Colonel Jamil Sarham, disclosed that the hoodlums were apprehended following an intelligence report on their plot to kidnap a rich lady in the area. Items recovered from them include two A.K 47 rifles, hundreds of 16.22 mm ammunition, 10 mobile phones and three vehicles. One of the suspects, Bomadi Arubu confirmed that they were to kidnap a woman before the security agents closed in on them.

Police Kill Suspected Robber in Asaba

A robbery suspect, Abanobi Chukwu Iloekwuma, has been killed in Asaba, Delta State, by the police. The suspect, a member of a three-man syndicate, was killed penultimate Sunday, after snatching a Toyota Hilux pick-up van with registration number CB 882 RSH.

Ologbo Refinery to Employ 350 Youths

Ologbo Refinery Company Limited, a modular refinery situated in Ologbo Community in Ikpoba-Okha LGA of Edo State, will on commencement of operation absorb over 350 skilled and employable youths. This was disclosed by the Management of the company, which is jointly funded by an American Construction firm and the Federal Government. The company, in the first phase of its operation, will produce at least 12,000 barrels of oil per day.

Shell Resumes Operations at Utorogu Gas Plant

Shell last week resumed operations at Utorogu gas plant in Delta State, but it has yet to complete repairs on its Soku facility, a company spokesman disclosed on Thursday. Utorogu was shutdown on August 13 for repair after the Escravos-Lagos pipeline was attacked by militants.

Delta Monarch Gives Agip Quit Notice

The traditional ruler of Obotebe Kingdom in Burutu council, Delta State, His Royal Majesty S.O. Akemotubo (UMBI) Ezuwei I, the Obenanaowei has issued a statement halting forthwith the operations of Nigeria Agip Oil Company in his domain until they acknowledged him as the paramount ruler of the area. The monarch is allegedly miffed over the impact of dredging activities of the firm in the community which adversely affected members of his community.

Stakeholders Call for Regular Patrol of Waterways in Delta State

Stakeholders have called for the regular patrol of waterways by security agencies to stem the activities of pirates in Delta State. There has been an upbeat in the activities of pirates in the waterways of Delta State culminating in passengers being dispossessed of their valuables. Stakeholders at the meeting had included members of Pesu Market Women Association, some of whom had been victims of last week's attacks and Delta State Waterways Security Committee.

FG Plans Jobs for Repentant Militants as Tompolo Accepts Amnesty

The Federal Government has continued to seek ways to quell the Niger Delta conflict, as it gears towards providing job opportunities for repentant militants in oil and gas, information and communication technology and agriculture sectors, according to Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaette. Ekaette disclosed that a programme for special skills acquisition will also be introduced for the youths. Meanwhile, militant leader in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, Government Ekpumopolo aka Tompolo, has reportedly agreed to surrender his arms.

Police Parade Suspected Political Thugs

The Nigeria Police Force has paraded 26 suspected thugs arrested during the August 22 re-run elections in Lampese constituency in Akoko Edo LGA of Edo state. The Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Ogbonna Onovo disclosed that the Police had recovered 23 different types of firearms, Live cartridges and ammunition, handsets as well as assorted charms from the suspects.

BNC Seeks Help for Nigerians on Death Row in Libya

Benin National Congress (BNC), a socio-cultural organization in Edo state, has appealed to Amnesty International and the Red Cross Society to urgently come to the aid of hundreds of Nigerians facing execution in Libya and Morocco. The group condemned what it described as the nonchalant attitude of the Nigerian Government towards the matter. The group noted that the fate of the detainees had been compounded by the ambiguous cooperation between Nigeria’s foreign Affairs Ministry and the Libyan authorities for well over one month.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Dreaded Robber Meets Waterloo

A member of four-man robbery gang, which the police said had been terrorising Osun State in the past months, has been arrested. He was arrested after they invaded Ifansan Street, Ibokun, where they dispossessed residents of valuables, and inflicted injuries on their victims. The Osun State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Clement Akinola, said policemen arrested him with the assistance of members of a vigilance group.

Gunmen Assassinate Ekiti Lecturer

A lecturer in the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Mr. Michael Awogbami, was on Monday shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Otun-Ekiti in the Moba LGA of Ekiti.  Awogbami, 41, was allegedly killed in front of his house, after the gunmen locked up members of the family in a room. They shot him many times before leaving. A competent police source said some suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

3 Nabbed for Possession of Humans Parts

The Ogun state police command has arrested three men for being in possession of human skulls and bones. Among the suspects was an herbal practitioner, Rasaki Yekini, who allegedly concealed a human skull in a polythene bag. The suspect confessed being in the business of using human parts for rituals purposes... Two others were arrested in a bush on the Lagos/Ibadan expressway for also having dry human bones in their possession. But the suspects claimed they found the bones in the bush and decided to take them.

50-Year-Old Farmer Accused of Raping 7-Yr-Old to Death

A seven-year-old girl, Okon Blessing, has been reported dead from loss of blood after an alleged rape by a 50-year-old man. While the Oyo State Police Command claimed that the man, Odele Moses, raped the deceased, the suspect denied, saying that he was being framed up with the charge. Meanwhile, police in Lagos have detained a 25- year-man for allegedly defiling an eight- year-old girl in Bariga. In a similar incident, the police, Monday, arraigned a 53-year-old man, David Ekanem, for alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl on August 20, at St. Louis Nursery and Primary School, Lagos. All accused pleaded not guilty.

NDLEA Recovers Abandoned Heroin at Airport, Uncovers Hemp Farm in Ekiti

Suspected drug traffickers abandoned 3.265kg of heroin worth over N25 million at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while two suspects were apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for attempting to smuggle 3.200kg of cocaine from Venezuela in their shoes. In Ekiti State, the NDLEA uncovered an Indian hemp farm in Iloro-Ekiti in Ijero Local Council. NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr. Ben Ikani said the plantation covers about 40 acres of land, adding that the officers were engaged in a shoot-out with unknown persons who tried to prevent the team from entering the place. No arrest was made.

7 Killed as Assailants Invade Ilorin

Barely a year after they first surfaced and threw residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital into panic, a group of unknown assailants recently resurfaced in the town, with at least seven victims killed. The State Commissioner for Information and communications, Mr Ben Duntoye, said the government was committed to the protection of lives and property of the citizenry, and assured that the police and other security agencies are capable of tackling the issue effectively. We advise people to continue to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation "he said

Woman Kills Mother over Alleged Witchcraft

Lagos State Police Command on Monday paraded a 26-year-old woman, for allegedly killing her 62-year-old mother over allegations of witchcraft. The suspect allegedly used a sledgehammer to hit her mother during a brawl. The command’s spokesman, Mr Frank Mba, said she had confessed to killing her mother, for allegedly using her sister for money-making rituals.

Tribunal Upholds Daniel’s Election

The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday upheld the election of Governor Gbenga Daniel in the April 14, 2007 election. The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Suleiman Amburssa, the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by Senator Ibikunle Amosun of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) against the victory of Daniel on the grounds that the petition lacked merit.

Teacher Defrauds, Kills 83-Year-Old Man

A 34-year-old primary school teacher, Akinkunle Adebayo, who allegedly murdered an octogenarian after defrauding him of N1.1 million in Ilesa, Osun State, was on Thursday ordered to be remanded at the Federal Prison, Ilesa, by an Osogbo magistrates’ court. Akinkunle was alleged to have killed Pa Olusola Akinyemi (83) on Sunday, August 23, at about 11am in Ilesa after being accused of defrauding the deceased. The prosecution also alleged that the accused and others now at large threatened to kill the deceased son, Oludare Akinyemi.

One Killed as Police Arrest Suspected Car Snatchers

Lagos State Police Command have arrested four members of a car snatching syndicate, killing one of them and recovering sophisticated arms and ammunition from them. The Command's Spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, confirmed this. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, has instructed the anti-robbery squad to speed up action against robbers and deal with those found culpable.

Protest in Ondo over Abduction, Murder of Man

A mass protest broke out, last weekend, in Akoko North-West Council of Ondo State as women and youths took to the streets to deplore the alleged murder of a man identified as Igbekele Oyeleye, who was allegedly abducted last Tuesday by members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), for refusing to carry out certain rituals in honour of some local deities. The order for his abduction was allegedly given by Gani Adams, leader of a faction of the OPC, who denied the allegation. The state Commissioner of Police, Donald Iroham, confirmed and said that they are investigating the incident.

GENERAL

510 Communities to be Affected as River Niger Dredging Commences

Work is set to begin on the Lokoja-Idah-Onitsha end of the Lower River Niger. The Assistant General Manager, Corporate Affairs of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Tayo Fadile, said that the dredging would affect 510 communities in Niger, Kogi, Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states and would be completed in three years. He said that the Environment Impact Assessment had been conducted and measures adopted to cushion the effect of the degradation on the environment. The objective of the dredging, he said, is to ensure that the navigational channel is kept open throughout the year with sustainable improvement in waterborne transport in the country.

WHO Warns of Fresh Swine Flu Pandemic

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of a second wave of the swine flu pandemic. This is coming on the heels of intense lobby on drug makers to donate swine flu vaccines to poor countries, which are more vulnerable in the fight against the pandemic. The Nigerian government is exploring all diplomatic means to ensure that the country has in stock the first batch of the swine flu vaccines, according to Mr. Niyi Ojuoalape, of the Federal Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, a new United States (U.S.) presidential panel report has said about 90,000 people, mainly among children and young adults, could die of the H1N1 flu virus should it resurge this fall as expected. Up to 40,000 U.S. deaths are linked to seasonal flu each year.

Trafficking: Gravest Rights Violation – UN

The United Nations (UN) has stated that women and children trafficking is one of the gravest violations of human rights. Ms. Sharon Oladiji, UNICEF's Child Protection Specialist, said that children’s’ lives as well as their rights to education, health and other recreation are threatened, as a result of trafficking, hence the need to exhibit courage and political will to halt the menace for the smooth survival of children.

IGP Apologises to Nigerians

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo on Wednesday apologised to Nigerians for what he described as "previous intransigence of the Nigeria Police Force" in carrying out assignments, and pledged to collaborate with the Police Service Commission (PSC) to earn the confidence Nigerians. Onovo also disclosed that the Police authorities were also renewing efforts aimed at retraining all the police orderlies and Aide-de-Camps (ADCs) hitherto attached to state governors and other VIPs but recently withdrawn, and stressed that henceforth "Nobody above the rank of a DSP will be ADC."

United Nations Awards Nigeria Police

The Nigeria Police Force has received international recognition from the United Nations (UN) which awarded medals to 120 Nigerian police officers for their meritorious service in international peacekeeping. The Nigeria police have participated in about 20 peacekeeping missions since 1960, placing the country the fifth among the 130 UN police-contributing countries. In the category of troop-military-contribution to the UN, Nigeria is currently in the fourth position.

FG Gives NLNG, IOC Deadline to Tackle Cooking Gas Scarcity

A two-week ultimatum was, Wednesday, handed down to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) and the International Oil Companies (IOC) to provide immediate and short-term solution to the scarcity of cooking gas in the country. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Rilwan Lukman, said that the directive encapsulates the seriousness that the government attaches to the continued scarcity of the product. Rilwanu declared that Government would not hesitate to make it mandatory, if the anticipated response is not secured.

Nigeria’s Oil Reserves Rebound

The Federal Government has disclosed that the nation’s current crude oil reserves stand at 37 billion barrels. The reserves, which stood at 35 billion barrels before the Niger Delta crisis escalated, dropped to 32 billion barrels at the height of the crisis. Petroleum Resources Minister Rilwan Lukman, who disclosed this, also said the government was working to ensure that the reserves hit the 40 billion mark in the not so distant future.

Foreign Banks Suspend Funding of Oil Sector in Nigeria

Upstream and downstream activities in Nigeria's oil and gas sectors are set to nosedive as major foreign lending institutions have suspended funding the sectors, following the alarm raised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that some Nigerian banks are not healthy. It was gathered that activities mostly affected are oil and gas projects being executed by indigenous contractors, as well as importation. While the local banks have channeled their efforts to loan-recovery to escape the CBN hammer. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DVCF Oil and Gas Plc, Mr. Anthony Eze, also said that the situation would adversely affect the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in the remaining part of 2009.

50 Rapes 14-yr-Old Girl

A 50 year old man, Ibrahim Hussaini Chindo, has allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl and infected her with HIV/AIDS, as cases of rape in Gombe State has continued to rise, according to the State Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Altine Sani Umar. Umar explained that even though the rape suspect, Ibrahim Hussaini Chindo, had confessed to the crime and offered to marry the girl, her parents had vehemently opposed the idea of any wedding between them, saying that he should have first sought their consent first. Umar revealed that they recorded between two and three cases of rape daily.

Labour to Resist Oil Sector Deregulation

Organised labour in the country has expressed fears over the actualisation of the deregulation policy of the downstream oil sector, stating the time frame of September, 2009, by the Federal Government is not very feasible as measures to cushion the effect of the policy are not in sight. A source at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said that the congress had concluded plans to resist the Federal Government’s plans to force the deregulation policy from September.

Benue Police Uncovers Illegal Armoury

The Benue state Police Command, on Monday, said it has uncovered an illegal armoury in the state and arrested a suspect. According to the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, over 40 AK rifles and other weapons were manufactured in Agatu LGA of the State. The police boss said the manufacturer of the weapons, Abu Danladi, is on the run but his assistant, one Oche Ochigbo, is in custody.

FCT Police Intercept Truck Load of Arms

The police have intercepted a truck full of arms and ammunition at the Jabi Motor Park in Abuja. It is believed that the large cache of arms belongs to a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at the park, where there has been crisis for the past one month. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Moshood Jimoh, confirmed this, saying that at least 36 people have been arrested by the police. It is believed that the union leader is in support of the ousted Jabi Park NURTW leader, Tope Olokpe, who is already in police net. Police sources disclosed that the truck was laden with guns and ammunition, machetes and charms.

30 More Boko Haram Suspects Arrested

About 30 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect have been arrested by the police in Yola, Adamawa State capital. Handing over the suspects, the leader of Adamawa security outfit, Operation Tsaro, said they were arrested at one of their hideouts in the bush, following a tip-off from villagers and the surveillance mounted by the security outfit in Yola. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) said on Tuesday that 111 prisoners had returned out of the 342 who escaped during a jailbreak during the Boko Haram crisis. Nine out of the number returned on their own, while the rest were re-arrested, Alhaji Borno Comptroller of Prisons, Usman Kaina, said. Kaina said NIS had given August 21, as the deadline for all the inmates to return, after which a drastic action would be taken.

Eight Perish in Auto-Crash

Eight persons were killed when a bus crashed into a trailer at the night on the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road. Ten other passengers and drivers, however, sustained injuries in their limbs and heads. The cause of the accident, according to the Maino Unit Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Ali Musa Chibok, was the truck's lack of rear lights, which made the bus driver to crash into the rear of the moving truck to Maiduguri.

Iranian Ambassador Tasks Nigeria on Nuclear Power

Nigeria's quest for adequate power supply will not materialise until the Federal Government considers the possibility of building nuclear power station, the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Khosrow Rezazadeh, has said. Rezazadeh said Iran was generating 40,000 megawatts of electricity while Nigeria was still targeting 6,000 megawatts at the end of this year, attributing the feat to his country's nuclear power. According to him, Nigeria has the potential to develop in all areas of human endeavour, saying all that Nigeria needed was to be self-reliant.

23 Killed as Cholera Epidemic Hits Northern States

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has raised alarm over the threat of cholera epidemic in northern parts of Nigeria. NEMA called on state governments to take proactive measures against the spread of cholera which has claimed at least 23 lives in Adamawa State. The Director General of NEMA, AVM Mohammed Audu-Bida (rtd), is alarmed at reports of the deaths.

65 Nigerians Die of Electrocution

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), on Monday revealed that about 65 people died as a result of electrocution in the country between 2007 and 2008.  A breakdown indicates that 23 deaths occurred in 2007 and 42 in 2008. The Administrator of NERC, Mallam Imamuddeen Talba, disclosed that a greater percentage of these deaths occurred in the distribution companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Talba lamented that the figure was extremely high and unacceptable. He added that the grant from United State Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), for the development of the safety manual, offered NERC the opportunity to intervene to check safety incidences in the field.

N25.5bnn Non-Performing Loans Recovered -EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Thursday, announced that it had recovered N25.5 billion from loan defaulters. EFCC Chairman Farida Waziri said the commission had continued with the arrest of loan defaulters and that by last night, 16 bank chiefs and 68 debtors were in EFCC’s custody.  The commission also announced that it had acceded to the order of a Lagos High Court that the two former Managing Directors of Afribank Nigeria Plc and Finbank Plc, Sabastine Adigwe and Okey Nwosu, who have been in the commission’s custody for over a week now, be released on bail.

63 Nigerians Deported from US

United States has deported about 63 Nigerians for allegedly being in possession of illegal firearm and residing in the country without legal documents. The Nigerian deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday. Among the deportees were seven female and 56 male.

Niger Govt to Compensate Darul-Islam Sect Members

Niger State government has concluded arrangements to compensate members of the puritan Islamic group, Darul-Islam who were evacuated from their enclave recently by security operatives. The State police Commissioner, Mr. Michael Zuokumor, said the state government’s decision was informed by the evictees peaceful and orderly conduct during their evacuation. According to him, the state government had set up a committee to take an inventory of their assets and valuables with the aim of commencing the compensation, while the foreigners among them would be repatriated.

INTERNATIONAL

Head of Darfur Peace Force Mission Quits

Head of the Joint United Nations (UN)-African Union peacekeeping mission in Sudan's conflict-torn Darfur region, Rodolphe Adada, who some diplomats said had been ineffective, has stepped down. The UN is working closely with the AU to find a replacement for Adada, UN spokeswoman, Marie Okabe, said. General Henry Anyidoho of Ghana, deputy head of UNAMID, will head the mission until a permanent replacement.

461 Dead, 192 Missing in Taiwan after Deadly Typhoon

Authorities in Taiwan on Tuesday confirmed that 461 people were killed while 192 were missing after Typhoon Morakot struck two weeks ago causing the worst flooding in the island's history. A local leader in the Kaohsiung county village of Hsiao Lin chief Liu Chien-fang on Monday said authorities would not attempt to recover the bodies of hundreds feared killed in the village by mudslide and would instead turn the site into a memorial park. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Red Cross Society has said it would build up to 1,600 houses within two years for some of the thousands of people left homeless by this month's massive Typhoon Morakot.

SADC Plans War Games for Military Response

Angola, Namibia and South Africa have planned to stage peacekeeping exercises in Namibian waters next month to strengthen their responsiveness to military aggression. Namibian Naval Commander, Petrus Tjandja, disclosed that the three countries were conducting war and peacekeeping simulation exercises to prepare the southern African countries for any war situation and peacekeeping efforts in any part of Africa. Tjandja added that 693 defence forces personnel were expected to take part in the war games. The war games, which will start during the first week of September, will cover security on air, land and sea.

3 Killed, 7 Injured in Israel Air Strike

An Israeli air strike on a smuggling tunnel between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on Tuesday killed three Palestinians and wounded seven, a Palestinian Health Ministry official said. The official, Dr. Moaiya Hassanain, said the men were all smugglers caught in the tunnel during the pre-dawn Israeli strike. An Israeli military statement said the air force struck in retaliation for a cross-border mortar attack Monday into southern Israel. The Israeli government has pledged a military response to every attack.

Kidnapped Child Resurfaces 18 Years Later

An 11-year-old girl, Jaycee Lee Dugard, now 29, who was kidnapped in 1991, was found alive on Thursday. She was kept in captivity by a convicted rapist, Phillip Garrido, 58, in his backyard and forced to bear two of his children, both girls 11 and 15. His wife, Nancy Garrido, 54, was also arrested, and authorities said she was with Garrido during the kidnapping in South Lake Tahoe.

Hundreds Flee Near Wildfire at LA Suburb

Wildfires erupted in California on Thursday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes as a late summer siege of heat and low humidity levels made conditions ripe for conflagrations. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for about 500 homes in La Canada Flintridge, said Forest Service fire spokeswoman Diane Cahir.

China Wants U.S. Quit Military Surveillance Missions

Chinese authorities have demanded that the United States (U.S.) military cease its surveillance missions off the Chinese coast. Bilateral ties have been repeatedly roiled this year by standoffs between Chinese vessels and U.S. Navy surveillance ships operating inside China's exclusive economic zone. China insists it has a right to restrict foreign military surveillance within its zone, but the U.S. says international agreements permit it to carry out such missions.

Scores Die in Suicide Attack at Pakistani Border

About 40 people were killed after a suicide bomber, Thursday, hit a Pakistani security checkpoint at the main border crossing for convoys ferrying the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) supplies into Afghanistan. The attacker approached on foot and detonated his explosives at the Torkham border checkpoint in the Khyber region, local police officer Sadiq Khan said. At least 40 were dead and dozens reported wounded, Khan said, adding that the death toll could rise.

Chechen Rebels Order Separatist Leader Death

Chechen rebels called on Tuesday for prominent separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev to be killed, saying he had abandoned Islam by recognizing the legitimacy of the restive region's Kremlin-backed government. Zakayev, who lives in London, represents the moderate wing of the separatist movement and has clashed with radical Islamist insurgents in Russia's southern republic of Chechnya. Zakayev, 50, fought Russia as a senior rebel commander in two wars with Moscow in 1994-2000.

Al-Qaeda Owns Responsibility for Baghdad Attacks

Al-Qaeda's umbrella group in Iraq, known as Islamic State of Iraq, has claimed responsibility for the bombings of government ministries in Baghdad last week that killed more than 100 people and left hundreds wounded. The group said that the attack was meant to "wreck the bastions of infidelity" that belong to what it describes as the pro-Iranian government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

US Senator Kennedy Dies at Age 77

United States Senator, Edward M. Kennedy, has died at age 77, his home after battling a brain tumour. For nearly a half-century in the Senate, Kennedy was a steadfast champion of the working class and the poor, a powerful voice on health care, civil rights, and war and peace. His death on Tuesday comes just weeks after that of his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver on Aug. 11

Thousands Evacuated as Bush Inferno Rages in Greece

Fire, Penultimate weekend, in Greece burned through suburbs north of Athens, destroying homes and forcing thousands to flee in night time evacuations. Elsewhere in Greece, fires were reported on the islands of Evia and Skyros in the Aegean Sea. Another large fire that started Saturday in the town of Plataea was spreading unchecked in western Attica.

Ousted Honduran President to be Tried for Treason

The Supreme Court in Honduras has said ousted President, Manuel Zelaya, would face trial for treason should he return to the country. The court was giving its opinion on a plan to solve Honduras' political crisis after Zelaya was ousted in a coup. Zelaya's return to Honduras under a national unity government is a key provision in a plan by mediator and Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. Soldiers arrested Zelaya and flew him into exile in Costa Rica on June 28 after he ignored a Supreme Court order to cancel a referendum asking Hondurans if they wanted a special assembly to rewrite the constitution.

South Korea Buries Ex-Leader

Thousands of mourners, penultimate Sunday trooped out for the state funeral of ex-President Kim Dae-jung, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reach out to communist North Korea. A North Korean delegation dispatched to Seoul to mourn the late leader, also met for talks with South Korea's president, the first high-level contact between the rival Koreas after many months of tension. Kim was buried at the national cemetery in Seoul. This is the first time the North has sent officials to mourn a former South Korean president.