Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 46

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PORT HARCOURTAND ENVIRONS

Anambra Teenage Kidnappers Abduct 9-yr-old

Kidnapping for ransom took a dangerous dimension recently with the emergence of teenage kidnappers in Anambra State. According to the state Police Commissioner, Philemon Leha, two teenagers, 16 and 14, who allegedly kidnapped 9-year-old Uju Victoria Nwokorie in Lagos and brought her to their hideout in Oyi LGA of Anambra State, were arrested and the victim rescued. The teenage kidnappers had kept their victim for two days at the hideout and had begun negotiation with her family before police closed up on them.

Yar’Adua Meets with Aaron Team

President Yar'Adua, on Saturday met with the Aaron Team picked by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to represent it in talks with the FG. MEND said the meeting shows government's genuineness on issues concerning the Niger Delta region. Spokesman of the group, Gbomo Jomo, described the parley as cordial and useful. Present for the Aaron Team were Vice Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe (rtd), Major General Luke Kakadu Aprezi (rtd), Professor Wole Soyinka and Mr. Amagbe Denzel Kentebe. Yar’Adua, at the meeting, offered a comprehensive development package as part of the government's post-amnesty plan.

Bakassi Fighters Threaten Fire over Harassments by Gendarmes

The Bakassi Freedom Fighters (BFF) have threatened to go back to the creeks of Bakassi as over 800 Nigerians were early this month chased away by the Camerounian Gendarmes from the Bakassi Peninsula, contrary to the Green Tree Agreement, which says that the people are free to remain there without molestation. Leader of the BFF, General Franklin Dukuku, Thursday, said that they would go back and defend their people if the Federal Government could not. The returnees said that due to the unwarranted harassment and brutal approach to Nigerians, they took very serious risk running away from the peninsula.

Shell Reopens 115,000bpd Oilfield in Bayelsa

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) announced resumption of crude oil production at its 115,000 barrels per day (bpd) East Area (EA) oilfield in Bayelsa state. The oilfield was shut down in 2006 following a series of attacks on the facility and abduction of oil workers, but was reopened in July this year. The facility was again shut down on September 7 for repairs, but was reopened on November 8. A Shell spokeswoman, Caroline Wittgen, confirmed the resumption of production.

3 Helicopters, Aircraft Suffer Mishaps

Series of mishaps in the aviation sector have increased concern amongst users and observers. On Thursday, Twinutter aircraft owned by Caverton Helicopters was damaged when it reportedly overshot the runway at the Bonny Terminal in Rivers state. While two Bristow owned helicopters were involved in another mishap at the Addax base in Calabar Cross River state, when one of them which was about to take off hit the other that was parked at the base, resulting in severe damage, although no life was lost. There was a helicopter crash in Calabar about one month ago and an air miss at the Port Harcourt airport recently. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is currently investigating the near collision in Port Harcourt airport.

Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers of Pa Soludo

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo, on Wednesday disclosed that the police have arrested all the persons suspected to have kidnapped the father of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Soludo. Pa Simeon Soludo, 78, who was abducted from his home, was released after nine days in captivity. Onovo also ordered state CPs to mount road blocks on all black spots on the nation’s highways to check the incessant crime rate associated with the yuletide season.

Ex-Militants in Imo State for Documentation

Proper documentation of ex-militants of Imo State origin has commenced at a post-amnesty accreditation centre, in Obinze. The exercise is expected to affect over 500 erstwhile militants. The managing director of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) Mr. Chimezie Isidore Nwabali, commanded President Yar’Adua for the amnesty programme.

Varsity Graduate Bags 12 year Jail Term for $2.5m Scam

A graduate from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nwanya Odichukwu, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court, Enugu for fraud and internet scam. Spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Femi Babafemi, said Odichukwu was arrested at a Cybercafé during a raid. A search on him led to the recovery of a parcel containing an international cashier, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) draft in the name of one Mr. B.R. Butler, a United Kingdom International Passport bearing the name of one Jaxkson Phillips Dennis as well as scanned United States dollar documents.

Chevron Rejoins Brass LNG as Gas Supplier

Chevron Nigeria Limited has re-joined the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Limited as its gas supplier after months of disengagement from the project. Industry watchers have described the return of Chevron as a huge boost to the Federal Government's post-amnesty programme. Chevron's return is not only a sign of possible greater economic fortune from the Niger Delta region, but also a signal that the Brass LNG project is on course and would be delivered as scheduled.

Dokubo-Asari Alleges Plot to Assassination Him

Leader of the Niger Delta People Volunteer Force and the People Salvation Front (NDPVF/PSF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has alleged that the Federal Government was planning to eliminate him within a couple of weeks in a planned clampdown on the group and others for their refusal to support the amnesty offer of the government. According to the group, the ex-militant leader was said to have been indicted by certain “erroneous intelligence reports” for allegedly mobilising new anti-government forces and moving secretly to some un-named countries preparatory to causing fresh crisis in the region.

South East Governors Call for Emergency Measures on Erosion

Governors of the five states in the South-East have called on Federal Government to urgently adopt emergency measures in tackling the devastating erosion problem in the zone. The governors lamented the ravaging effects of erosion in their respective states. Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu stated that gully erosion had destroyed a good percentage of homes in the zone, pointing out that the states lack adequate funds to combat the menace effectively.

Kidnappers Release Abducted Actor

Suspected Kidnappers of Nollywood actor, Ikem Owoh, popularly called Osuofia, on Thursday, turned down N1 million offered as ransom by his family for his freedom.  A family member disclosed that the kidnappers rejected the money and vowed not to release him until they get the N15millon demand. It was learnt that the actor was reportedly kidnapped on along the Enugu-Port Harcourt highway. He regained freedom on Saturday, after his family allegedly paid N1.4m as ransom. The source said the family could only raise N1.4m out of the N1.5m demanded by the kidnappers.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

NBA Chief, Children kidnapped in Edo

The Chairman of Ekpoma Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nath Inegbedion and his three children were, during the week, abducted in Edo state. In protest, the Edo State chapter of the NBA on Wednesday ordered its members to withdraw services for any criminal case involving armed robbery and kidnapping. The state NBA chairman Bamidele Abina called on the government and security outfits to rise up to guarantee the security of lives and property in the country.

Presidency, Reps Agree On Royalty for Oil Bearing Communities

The House of Representatives and the Presidency on Monday agreed on a new and more specific royalty regime for crude oil bearing communities in the country. The House of Representatives joint committees on Petroleum at a retreat in Warri, Delta state with the Inter agency team on the Petroleum Industry Bill, agreed to work out a clear administration of royalty for the oil bearing communities. The Chairman of the Petroleum Industry Bill Inter agency team, Dr. Timothy Okon, said oil companies were resistant to the Bill because it sought a direct payment of royalties to communities, and transparency in their operations among other things.

Ex-Militants Storm Chevron, Demand Empowerment, Development

Hundreds of ex-militants, Monday, disrupted operations of Oil multinational, Chevron, in Warri, Delta State, as they demanded for employment, skills acquisition and other development projects. The former militants said that they embarked on the protest to draw attention on the need to provide them with employment to keep them away from their guns and make them useful to the society. Mr. Tony Emeagere of the Public Affairs Department of Chevron pleaded with them for patience to enable the management look into the issue. Delta State government has already stepped in to address the issues raised.

Tompolo Alleges Insincerity FG Officials, Calls for Calm, Patience in Niger Delta

Former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has doubted the sincerity of the Federal Government to the post-amnesty development of the Niger Delta. Tompolo, who hosted a meeting of prominent former militant leaders in Warri, Delta State on Monday, noted that while he was comfortable with the commitment of President Umar Yar’Adua, he could not say the same thing about the President’s lieutenants. Yet, he stressed the need for Niger Deltans to give the government a chance, warning his boys against actions that are capable of tarnishing the image of what they stood and fought for. Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who attended the meeting as an invitee, assured Tompolo and his boys that his administration had laid out plans to

Delta Commissioner Loses Children in Asaba Road Accident

Three persons, including two children of the Delta State new Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Emmanuel Eboh, lost their lives in an auto-crash on Wednesday in Asaba, Delta State capital, when a Mercedes 911 truck lost control and collided with their the vehicle in which they were riding. An eyewitness explained that the truck was driving at top speed when a sudden brake failure caused it to veer off the dual carriage road and run into the SUV, which was travelling in the opposite direction. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, lamented that fatal accidents involving Lorries had been on the increase in Asaba.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Family Demands Apology from Police over Killing at Checkpoint

The family of a septuagenarian, Mr. Jacob Odediji Alabi, who was allegedly killed by a policeman in Osogbo penultimate Saturday, while returning from his son’s wedding, has demanded an apology from the Police. The son of the deceased, Mr. Babatunde Odediji, called on the police to release the corpse of his father and make a proper arrangement for his burial. Pa Odediji was allegedly shot in a commercial bus with at a police checkpoint in Osogbo. The Osun State Police command said that he was hit by a stray bullet fired at the tyre of the bus by a policeman when the driver of the vehicle refused to obey stop order by the police.

French Navy Trains Nigerias Navy

Nigerian naval personnel are to undergo training sessions on telecommunication, radar and armament aboard a French ship that is expected to berth at the NPA Jetty, Apapa, Lagos, this November. The ship is on a routine mission along the African coast. Nigeria and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation and maritime security.

Nigerian Army Celebrates Liberian Peace Keepers Return

Officers and men of the 222 Battalion of the Nigeria Army, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Kwara State, gathered last weekend to celebrate the return of some 700 of their own from their engagement in peace mission in Liberia. The returnees were amply rewarded during the programme for their gallantry in securing Central Monrovia, Sinkor, Congo town and the Paynesville general area, among others, in line with the United Nations’ (UN) mandate.

Cult Clash Claims 3 at Yaba Tech, as UNILAG Student Kills Neighbour

A clash between two rival cult groups has claimed the lives of three students of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. It wasgathered that the hostility started penultimate Friday when one Azeez Ajibola, a student, was hacked to death at the school gate following an argument between the groups. His friends retaliated and shot dead an unidentified student believed to be a member of the opposing group. On Tuesday, another student was attacked and killed with a cutlass. The Dean of Student Affairs, Alhaji Bello said that the cultist activities happened outside the campus. Meanwhile, a first year student of the University of Lagos, Lanade Abayomi, 23, has been arrested by the police for allegedly killing his neighbour.

Police Dislodge Robbery Gang, Arrest 21

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have arrested 21 suspected armed robbers believed to be behind the series of armed banditry across the country. The arrest of the 21-man gang followed the earlier arrest of a suspected armed robber whose name was given as Ibrahim Olaosebikan, who confessed and named 18 other suspects. The police recovered from his home, two military pistols with 10 rounds of ammunition. He later led the police to the gang's hide-out where 18 others were arrested. The Commissioner of Police, SAR, Mr. Jubril Adeniji, said they were members of the gang of one Charles Ovie Ojo, believed to have killed the Officer Commanding (OC) Special Anti-robbery Squad, Mohammed Manura. A 45-year-old woman, who was alleged to be their armourer, was also arrested in Ibadan.

Four Killed In Auto Crash

Four persons were at the weekend killed along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, while 12 others were seriously injured when three vehicles were involved in an accident. The Ogun state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Olu-Mike Olagunju, informed that one of the vehicles involved was pushed into a ditch. He advised motorists to observe safety regulations on the road, saying extra care needed to be taken especially during the ember months and at night.

Armed Thugs Sack Kingmakers over Monarch’s Stool

The dethronement of an Akure monarch, Oba Adesina Oluwadare Adepoju, assumed a dangerous dimension on Tuesday when some armed thugs invaded a meeting of the high chiefs and Kingmakers at Oke-Lisa, in Akure. Traditional chiefs and kingmakers who spotted the hoodlums from afar ran for safety. The Akure Council of Chiefs has denied allegation that the removal of the monarch was politically motivated, saying that the allegation was designed to rubbish the image of the council.

GENERAL

Four Abducted Kids Found Dead

The Bodies of four children who were, Wednesday, kidnapped from their school premises in Niger State were reportedly found dead the day after they were abducted, in a bush with their heads cut off. Eye witnesses said that a vehicle with three occupants had parked directly opposite the gate of the school and waited for several hours, only to grab the four children as the school closed for the day and zoomed off to an unknown destination. The school authorities immediately raised alarm and contacted the police, but every attempt to rescue them failed. The incident caused pandemonium in Suleja and other parts, as parents are now reportedly afraid to send their children to school while the authorities in the areas have adopted measures to ensure the safety of their pupils.

Two Corps Members Raped In Kano

Two female members of National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) were reportedly raped to a state of unconsciousness in Kano when 14 suspected armed robbers invaded their residence in a secondary school where they were posted. The suspects also carted away property worth several thousands of Naira. The incident is now a source of concern to the school’s authority and the NYSC. A source said the suspects stormed the school, locked up the guards and the seven male corps members and pounced on the girls. The police have reportedly swung to action to fish out the suspects, while the victims are being treated in a hospital.

Nigeria Considers Refining Crude in Senegal

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Odein Ajumogobia, has disclosed that Nigeria is considering processing some of its crude offshore to make petroleum products directly available to the country. He explained that the economy has grown bigger than the country's refining capacity hence the need to look into other available options, arguing that even if all refineries are working at optimal capacity, they still will not meet the nations’ requirement given the economic expansion. Ajumogobia expressed hope the relationship between Nigeria and Senegal would be mutually rewarding and beneficial.

Niger Permanent Secretary Kidnapped

Kidnappers who abducted the Niger state Permanent Secretary in charge of Youth Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Umar, on Monday along Suleja/Diko road have demanded N30 million as ransom for his release, according to his wife, Hajiya Maimuna Umar.

Aviation Minister wants Better Security, Safety at Airports

Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba, has said the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has begun a programme to ensure safety and security of lives and property at the airports. The Minister who spoke during the re-opening of the rehabilitated Kaduna Airport runway on Thursday said the agency is making efforts to improve facilities at other airports with the overall aim of ensuring improved passenger facilitation and security of the passengers. The runway was closed at the beginning of October to allow for partial resurfacing of its middle stretch.

Four Siblings in Katsina Mystery Death

Four siblings, aged between 19 and 23, have died in Katsina metropolis under yet to be ascertained circumstances. An eye-witness said the deceased were hale and hearty before they went to sleep in a shop, adding that shop owners in the area realised that the shop was still closed at about 7am, which was unusual, and the youths had not been seen, prompting them to raise alarm and force their way into the shop. Traders said they suspected the deceased might have died from suffocation or food poisoning as a local drink, Fura de nunu, was sold in the shop.

Benue Police Rescue Kidnapped Customary Court Judge

The Benue Police Command has rescued a customary court judge, Okpi Omoha, and his friend who were abducted in Otukpo. A suspect, Mr. Chinedu Paul, arrested in Otukpo, on Monday, said to be a member of the kidnap gang that demanded N10m each from the two victims, denied being one of the culprits. The state Police Commissioner, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, disclosed that Paul was arrested at the point of collecting ransom of N280, 000 in Otukpo. The police boss disclosed that the suspects used cello tape and ropes to seal the mouths of their victims, blindfolded them and tied their legs and hands and kept without food or water for three days.

Navy Alleges Plot to Destabilise Nigeria

The Nigerian Navy Command, on Tuesday, alleged plans by a group, Nigerian Merchant Navy, led by one Commodore Benson Edema to destabilise the country. It alleged that the group had been recruiting and training some youths in weapon handling and military tactics, highlighting that some of them had been posing as naval personnel in Lagos and other parts of the country and wreaking havoc. According to the Director of Naval Information, Commodore David Nabaida, their activities posed serious national threat to the peace of the country, adding that five persons, including a 70-year-old man, had been arrested for operating in their illegal military camp.

Quick Ransom Payment Encourages Kidnapping -IGP

Inspector General of Police (IG) Ogbonna Onovo has said the spate of kidnapping in Nigeria is mostly caused by families of rich victims who are in a hurry to pay ransoms. The IG also called for a stiffer penalty on anyone caught in the act. Onovo said the police should be more vigilant and ensure that all vehicles were thoroughly searched with special attention to the occupants to reduce the menace.

FG: Oil Companies Must Invest in Downstream Sector for Licensing

Investment in the downstream sector, particularly in refinery projects, is now the condition for issuance and renewal of concessions and oil licenses to International Oil Companies (IOCs) in Nigeria. Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Billy Agha, who disclosed this, said Federal Government has directed that companies that fail to meet the fresh condition will not be issued with oil licenses and will also not have their concession renewed.

Willbros Official Admits to Bribing Nigerian Officials

Former consultant for Willbros International Inc. (WII), a subsidiary of Houston-based Willbros Group Inc. (Willbros), Paul G. Novak, on Thursday admitted to engaging in a conspiracy to pay more than $6 million in bribes to Nigerian officials. Novak, 43, admitted before U.S. District Judge Simeon T. Lake III in Houston, that he conspired with others to make a series of corrupt payments to various Nigerian officials to assist Willbros in obtaining and retaining the EGGS project, which was valued at approximately $387 million, violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).  He will be sentenced on February 19, 2010.

Reps Call for Resumption of Oil Exploration in North, S’East

The House of Representatives, Thursday, urged the Federal Government to direct the relevant authorities to resume the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in the Lake Chad Basin, Benue and Adamawa Troughs as well as the Anambra River Basin. Earlier efforts at exploration in the Chad Basin and adjoining territories were frustrated by a number of factors including the huge cost of the venture and apparent non-viability of some of the oil wells discovered in the region.

Police Arrest Four for Impersonation

The police in Abuja have arrested four persons for impersonating operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to obtain French visa. The suspects were picked up at the French Embassy after they tendered documents with fake FAAN’s letter-headed papers. Officials of the embassy were said to have smelt a rat and called FAAN, which disowned the suspects and promptly alerted the police.

NDLEA Nabs 3 with Indian Hemp at Abuja

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abuja have arrested three drug suspects caught in possession of Indian hemp, weighing 33.150 kilograms. NDLEA FCT Commandant, Omolade Omole, said the suspects concealed the Indian hemp inside a fuel tanker truck that belongs to Nana Oil. She said the NDLEA was tipped after the tanker took off from Lagos to Suleja.

30 Companies Close Shop over Gas Crisis

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has raised the alarm over the crisis facing the nation’s manufacturing sector following the increase in gas tariff and the discontinuation of supply to some industries, particularly those in Lagos State, claimed that at least 30 companies have been shut or forced to operate partially. Manufacturers and Gaslink Nigeria Limited, the major gas supplier to industries in Lagos, are locked in a disagreement over the upward review of gas price by the latter, from N24.21k to N59.66k. MAN has directed its members not to pay the new tariff.

Governors Support Deregulation

Governors of the 36 states of Nigeria, on Monday said they were in full support of the Federal Government’s policy on deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, and urged the FG to embark public sensitization on the policy. The Chairman of the forum and Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said they also expressed support for the amnesty and post-amnesty programmes, and called on the ex-militants to support the rehabilitation programme. They said the rehabilitation programme may be delayed because of checks and balances in a democratic setting. The governors also want more stringent punitive measures against persons involved in illegal oil bunkering.

Road Crash Claims 4,517 in Eleven Months -FRSC

At least 4,517 persons lost their lives to road accidents nationwide, between January and November 8, this year. While 23,081 persons were injured in 9,226 crashes involving 12,165 vehicles, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) reports indicate. The FRSC added that 358,735 offenders were also arrested within the period for various traffic offences.

105 Air Force Officers Promoted

About 105 officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have been promoted to the ranks of Air Vice Marshal, Air Commodore, Group Captain and Wing Commander. A breakdown of the figures shows that six Air Commodores were promoted Air Vice Marshals (AVM), 27 Group Captains were made Air Commodores, 33 Wing Commanders were elevated to the rank of Group Captain, while 39 Squadron Leaders rose to the rank of Wing Commander. The Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Sadeeq Garba Shehu, said the decoration of the newly promoted would be done in due course.

Police Affairs Minister Indicted for Misappropriation of N3.5bn Special Fund

House of Representatives, Thursday, flayed Police Affairs Minister, Ibrahim Lame for failing to account for N3.5 billion meant for Strategic Crime Prevention projects in seven cities in the country. The money was approved for the Police Force before his appointment as Minister, but members of the Police Affairs Committee were stunned that Lame could spend such a huge sum outside the scope of the experimented special crime prevention scheme. But the Minister explained that some of the items purchased included “specialized security vehicles” and that experts have also been brought in from the United Kingdom to train members for the specialized policing.

Germany Plans 10m Euros To Combat Organised Crimes In West Africa

The German government has promised to spend over 10 million Euros in the next five years as part of its efforts to fight organised crimes in Nigeria and the West Africa, according to the Vice-President, German Federal Criminal Investigations Office, Professor Juergen Stock. The criminal investigation boss led a powerful team of crime officers from his country to Nigeria to access the areas where his country could render more assistance to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to wage an effective war against drug crime in the West African sub-region.

Police Beef Up Patrol on Nasarawa Highways

The police in Nasarawa State have tightened security in Lafia, the state capital, and increased stop and search operation along federal highways running through the state. State Police Public Relations Officer ASP Richard Akoji said the command made the decision in order to build confidence in road users during the months of October, November and December. He said the command was determined to fight criminals head on, warning that armed robbers and other criminals within the jurisdiction should quit.

Sahara Desert Threatens Northern States

Desert encroachment moving at 0.6 kilometres per annum is threatening 11 northern states, experts said on Tuesday in Kano. The Managing Director of Husts Global Resources Limited Alhaji Umar Yusuf Karaye said the speed at which the Sahara desert was moving was dangerous. Karaye said another danger the states face was that of climate change, saying room temperature was hitherto measured at 30 degrees but is now 40 degrees. He called for conscientious efforts from all parties to address the issue.

INTERNATIONAL

Indonesian Landslides Kill 14

Torrential rains, last weekend, triggered series of landslides on Indonesia's Sulawesi Island, killing at least 14 persons and burying many more, Mayor Pateddungi Tenri Ajeng said on Monday. Police, soldiers and villagers continued to search for people still missing. Several other landslides cut off access to the town but did not cause damage or fatalities. Several days of flooding cut off villages and submerged more than 3,600 houses in the area, forcing people to seek higher ground.

North, South Korea in Naval Clash

North Korea has threatened to punish South Korea after their first naval clash in seven years, while South Korea expressed confidence it could deter any attack from its communist neighbour. Both countries on Tuesday clashed in waters off their western coast with each side accusing the other of violating the disputed sea border and firing first. This comes as President Barack Obama of the US, due to arrive in South Korea on November 18, plans to send a senior envoy to Pyongyang for the first direct talks between the north and the US. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, says the fight would not scuttle the planned visit. South Korea on Wednesday sent two more warships to guard its border after the clash.

Pirate Judge Shot Dead in Somalia

Justice Mohamed Abdi Aware, of a Somalia High Court, known for jailing pirates and Islamists has been shot dead in Somalia's Puntland region. The security minister for northern Somalia, Mohamed Said Samatar on Thursday said three men were arrested over the killing. In addition to jailing suspected pirates, Aware also recently jailed four members of Somalia's Islamic insurgency. Eyewitness said masked men with pistols shot the judge in the head and chest several times as he left a mosque on Wednesday evening in the port city of Bossaso.

Venezuela Prepares for War with Colombia

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has ordered the country's military to prepare for a possible armed conflict with Colombia, if the United States attempts to provoke a war between the South American neighbours. But Colombian President, Alvaro, rejected what it called "threats of war from Venezuela" saying it would protest Chavez's comments. Colombian and U.S. officials have repeatedly said Venezuela shouldn't be concerned about the base deal since it is only aimed at boosting the fight against drug traffickers and insurgents in Colombia. Tensions along the Venezuela-Colombia border have been exacerbated in recent weeks by a series of shootings and slayings.

UN Warns of Mass Starvation in East Africa

Drought and war in eastern Africa have left more than 20 million people in desperate need of emergency food aid, according to the United Nations (UN). The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said delayed rains and dry spells often followed by floods had hurt crops and pastures in Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Uganda. In Somalia and Sudan, poor weather has worsened a food emergency due to civil wars, with 3.6 million and 5.9 million people in need of food aid, respectively. A further 2.2 million people in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo also need food help.

Dozens Die in Indian Landslide,

An unknown number of people have been killed after a landslide triggered by torrential seasonal rains swept through a hilly region in southern India. The landslide demolished nearly 300 tin-roofed mud huts on Monday in the Ooty and Coonoor region of Tamil Nadu state. The death toll was expected to rise further with the rescue operation continuing in the region, an Indian official said.

Pakistan Suicide Blast Claims Lives

A suspected suicide car bomber struck a congested traffic circle outside Peshawar, Pakistan. It occurred just as Charsadda District Police Chief Mohammed Riaz Khan was leaving the area. He believes his convoy was the target of the attack. In recent days, Peshawar - the capital of North West Frontier Province - has come under increasingly frequent attacks. A suicide bombing at a police checkpoint on Peshawar's Ring Road killed at least three people on Monday. A suicide car bombing on Sunday killed 17 people in the city, including an area mayor. Pakistan has blamed the violence on Islamic militants who have vowed to avenge an intense military offensive to rout them from their haven along the country's border with Afghanistan.

Human Rights Group Accuses China of Running Illegal Prisons

Human Rights Watch has accused China of running unlawful detention centres. It says these centres - known as black jails - are often in state-run hotels, nursing homes or psychiatric hospitals, where ordinary people who have travelled to Beijing to report local injustices. But the government has denied black jails are used, despite previous reports on their existence. The human rights group report disclosed that ordinary people are often abducted off the streets and taken to illegal detention centres. They are sometimes stripped of their possessions, beaten, raped and given no information about why they have been detained. The group based its report on information from interviewing 38 detainees earlier this year.

One Killed as Rwandan Plane Crashes

A Rwandair plane, Thursday, crashed into the VIP lounge, after taking off from the international airport in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, killing at least one person. A policeman at the scene said 10 people had been taken to hospital. In other related disaster, a Tanzanian government official said a landslide killed 11 children and nine adults near Mount Kilimanjaro while about 18 people working in an illegal gold mine in western Ghana were killed when the mine collapsed.

Libya Repatriates Rebels to Niger

Authorities in Libya have begun repatriating hundreds of Nigerien Tuareg rebel fighters, the latest sign of progress in pacifying Niger's north after two years of revolt. The fighters, who are from an MNJ faction of Niger's Tuareg rebels who launched an uprising in 2007, had laid down their weapons in Libya. At least 386 rebels have been flown back to the town of Agadez, in Niger's north, according to Abba Malam Boukar, the governor of the Agadez region. The rebels launched their uprising calling for more representation for the nomadic Tuareg people and a greater share of the minerals mined in Niger's north, where they live.

Israel Fights against 'Blood Diamond' Trade

In a move to curb illicit diamond trafficking, Israel has agreed to lead a group working to stop militants in Africa using the roughly $6 billion trade in so-called blood or conflict diamonds to fund fighting. A United Nations panel of experts said last month that Israel, whose diamond trade is worth more than $10 billion, might be involved in the illegal export and sale of blood diamonds from Cote d'Ivoire, but Israeli officials rejected the accusation.

Kidnapped Kenyan Men Regain Freedom in Somalia

Kidnappers in Somalia have freed two Kenyan men that were abducted, penultimate Sunday in Mogadishu along with two Somalis by 10 masked gunmen in a market. The Somalis were later released, before the Kenyans were freed late on Monday. Kidnappings- often targeting foreigners and aid workers - are common in Somalia.

Jewish Settler Charged for Murder

A Jewish settler has been charged in Israel with murdering two Palestinians and other crimes including attempting to murder a left-wing Israeli academic. Yaacov Teitel, an American immigrant who lives in the West Bank, faces 14 charges, including two counts of murder and three of attempted murder. The crimes include sending a bomb to a messianic Jewish family and attempting to poison a Palestinian village. "God is proud of what I have done," Mr Teitel told reporters at the court.

American Sniper Mastermind Executed

With no reasons to why he hunted down his victims, John Allen Muhammad, 48, was executed on Tuesday. Muhammed was the mastermind behind the D.C.-area sniper attacks that killed 10 in October 2002. Muhammad was executed for killing Dean Harold Meyers, during the spree. The terror ended on October 24, 2002, when police captured Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo. The men also were suspected of fatal shootings in other states, including Louisiana, Alabama and Arizona. The U.S. Supreme Court turned down Muhammad's final appeal on Monday, and Governor Timothy M. Kaine denied clemency on Tuesday.

Mayon Volcano Threat Sacks Hundreds in Philippines

The cone-shaped Mayon volcano in the central Philippines, which killed scores in an eruption 16 years ago, Wednesday, shot up an ash plume, prompting hundreds of residents to evacuate. Chief state volcanologist, Renato Solidum, said that if magma continues to rise below the glowing crater, there could be another eruption within weeks. Officials distributed wireless public address systems to more than 700 village and town officials for emergency evacuation announcements if necessary. Mayon's most violent eruption, in 1814, killed more than 1,200 people and buried a town in mud. A 1993 eruption killed 79 people.

Man Convicted Killing Egyptian Woman in Germany

A twenty eight-year-old Russian-born German man has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing a pregnant Egyptian woman in a Dresden courtroom, an attack that triggered outrage in the Moslem world. The Dresden state court said in its ruling that because of the particularly brutal nature of the crime, the defendant, Alexander Wiens, would not be eligible for early release. Al-Sherbini, a 31-year-old pharmacist, was stabbed at least 16 times by Wiens with a kitchen knife in the Dresden courtroom where she was to testify against him.

Crime Rise in Angola Alarms Chinese Residents

A top Chinese official has identified the rise in robberies and other violent crimes on the country's nationals for their mass exit from Angola. He said the development was threatening to disrupt business between the two states. The head of the Chinese Business Council in Luanda, Xu Ning, said armed robberies, rapes and even murder were making life difficult for the Chinese living in the capital, Luanda. The capital is considered to be one of the world's most expensive cities for foreigners.

Guebuza Re-Elected In Mozambique Election

President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique has won a resounding victory in the country's general election. His FRELIMO Party, in power since it led the country to independence from Portugal in 1975, won 191 of the 250 parliamentary elections. Guebuza beat his rivals, longtime opposition leader, Afonso Dhlakama, the head of a new party, Daviz Simango, capturing 75.46 per cent of the presidential vote.