Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 10

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

2 Soldiers, Others Killed as Youths and Soldiers Battle in Bayelsa

Some armed youths engaged the men of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Okolobri, Bayelsa State in a gun battle that left two soldiers and five of the youths dead. It was gathered that the youths were worshippers of an Ijaw deity known as ‘Egbesu’ and were allegedly on a procession when they were confronted by soldiers who queried their possession of sophisticated weapons.  The action of the soldiers was said to have incensed the boys, leading to a fierce battle in which 7 persons were killed and several others wounded from both sides. Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Solomon Omeni confirmed the incident but did not give the exact casualty figure, the JTF Media Officer, Lt. Col Timothy Atinga, deny the death of any soldiers.

Police Stray Bullets Kill 2 in Enugu

At least two persons were killed by stray bullets and several others wounded on Tuesday in Enugu, when some policemen allegedly opened fire on a crime suspect they went to arrest. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amarizu, who confirmed the incident, said the policemen did not intentionally open fire on them. It was learnt that a 5-man team had gone to arrest a suspect, but met a strong resistance by the suspect who displayed dangerous weapons, forcing the police to open fire, shooting sporadically. Ironically, the suspect was neither hurt nor arrested as he succeeded in chasing the police away. The PPRO expressed worry over the death of the victims, noting however that the state police command had taken the case seriously with those involved.

Fake SSS Official Nabbed in Anambra

The police in Anambra State have arrested a 35-year-old man who impersonated as a member of the State Security Service (SSS) and extorted over N6.4 million from various victims. The SSS Director in Anambra State, Mr. Ekpenyong Essian Eta, said the suspect specialised in threatening his victims that kidnappers were on the prowl, and then offered to give them protection for fee of not less then N31, 250 weekly since 2007. The suspect confessed to his involvement in the crime, saying he had been collecting money from people for over two years

Family Wants AIG to Probe Extra-Judicial Killing

Relatives of one Gabriel Esidene Obogor, a student of the University of Calabar and his friend, have petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Zone 6 Calabar, to prevail on the Akwa Ibom State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) to produce the undergraduates who were arrested and detained over alleged theft, since December 14, 2009. Relations of the suspects, led by one Chief Edward Ogar and Mary Obogor have lamented that effort to charge the matter to court had continued to fail. They accused the SARS officials of refusing to allow the law to take its course as the police have totally denied every member of the family access to the suspects. The added that information gathered revealed that Mr. Gabriel and Adauga were no longer alive in the police custody.

Amaechi Recommends Transfer of DPOs over Illegal Bunkering

To ensure that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) makes real progress in cleaning up oil spill sites in Ogoniland, Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has recommended the transfer of the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Ogoni.  He hinged his recommendation on the fact that the officers could not check the menace of oil bunkerers in the area. The governor also constituted a 44-member surveillance team to patrol the area jointly with the police and men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) to fish out all illegal bunkerers.

Monarch’s wife, Judge Abducted Owerri

In a twin assault on the Imo State judiciary on Tuesday, kidnappers abducted Magistrate Pauline Njemanze, wife of the traditional ruler of Owerri, Eze Emmanuel Njemanze, and Justice A.B.C. Egu, the President of the state Customary Court of Appeal. It is not certain whether any casualty was recorded in the course of the abduction. Meanwhile, the Imo State police command has reassured residents that both personalities would be rescued and the culprits apprehended. The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, has raised an alarm over the rising spate of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.

Rainstorm Destroys 80 Houses in Abia Community

Hundreds of people have been rendered homeless in Amaekpu Item of Bende LGA of Abia State, following the rainstorm that destroyed about 80 houses and other property valued at about N200 million. However, no life was lost. Inspecting the extent of damage at Item, Special Adviser, Aba Liaison to Governor Orji, Chief Joseph Ogwo declared the area a disaster zone and assured the people that help from the state government would come to them.

Four Cops Killed in Onitsha

Four policemen have been killed and two patrol vans belonging to the police burnt by armed robbers along the Onitsha-Owerri expressway, the police revealed on Tuesday. The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Anambra State Command, Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover, said that the armed robbers also dispossessed the policemen of their weapons. Oshodi-Glover spoke as he paraded 27 suspects arrested in Anambra State in the last three weeks for kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted murder. He said the suspects were arrested with the help of the local vigilance group, which intercepted the suspects and promptly alerted the police.

Police, NSC Investigate Abduction of Journalists in Imo

The National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Imo State government have begun moves to secure the release of the three sports journalists, including a South African, kidnapped on Monday in Owerri. The journalists covered a CAF Confederation Cup match, penultimate Sunday in Enugu. General Manager, Super Sports, Nigeria, Felix Awogu, said that the kidnappers demanded a ransom, but his office was not negotiating with them. State Public Relations Officer, Linus Nwaiwu said that the command was working to ensure that the gang is smashed.

300 Rendered Homeless by Windstorm in C’River

Over 300 persons in Ekori in Yakurr LGA of Cross River state have been displaced as a result of a devastating windstorm which destroyed about 100 houses. Many of the victims particularly women and children are exposed to harsh weather as they are presently clamped into makeshift rooms and huts. The Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Vincent Aquah, lamented the spate of windstorm disasters in the state, attributing the phenomenon to global warming.

Gunmen Abduct Senator’s Aged Mother in Bayelsa

Unknown gunmen struck in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state and abducted Mrs. Florentina Emmanuel, the 73-year-old mother of a serving senator, Senator Emmanuel Paulker. The development has heightened the fear of insecurity in the state. Also confirming the incident, the Police Public Relation of Officer, Solomon Omoemin, (ASP), assured that the perpetrators would soon be fish out from their hideout.

Abducted Wife of LG Boss Regains Freedom

After 15 days in captivity, the wife of the chairman of Obubra LGA in Cross River State, Mrs. Tina Ayuwa, has been released. She was released, penultimate Saturday night at a rural village in Oruk Inam LGA of Akwa Ibom State after the kidnappers got a ransom of N10 million which was reportedly paid by her husband, Mr. Nicolas Ayuwa. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, confirmed the release of the woman but said he was unaware of the amount paid as ransom. The council boss said his wife was dumped in a bush at night, and got help on Sunday morning from a woman who was going to church.

DPO Redeployed over Negligence

A Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Akwa Ibom State has been redeployed over negligence in a kidnap incident recorded in the area recently. The DPO now was said to have been absent at his duty post when a kidnap incident occurred in jurisdiction the area, a situation which made him to fail to give necessary directive for action. Commissioner of Police in the State, Walter Rugbere, who confirmed this, said the redeployment of the DPO to the Police Headquarters was to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to relax in the on-going war against kidnappers and other criminality in the state.

Teacher Commits Suicide over Job Loss

A primary school teacher has allegedly hanged himself in Obudu, Cross River state after his name appeared amongst the 924 teachers who were thrown out of job last week by the State Government in a massive downsizing. The teacher, a father of four, was caught off balance in the retirement gale, which has been blamed on the alleged biting effect of the delisting of the state from the league of oil producing states and the “unbearable huge wage bill of teachers and the civil service”. But the government traced its action to an exercise of four years ago, to the effect that the teachers were “compulsorily retired” because of a “joint screening exercise carried out by the Ministry of Education and the state Universal Education Board 2006”.

Niger Delta Group Petitions UN over Deployment of Soldiers

Some indigenes of the Niger Delta, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Project Group, have petitioned the United Nations (UN) to prevail on the Federal Government to halt the deployment of soldiers in the region for the purpose of oil exploration. The petitioners said the denial of the people the right to control their natural resources had resulted in the clampdown on agitators and the destruction of whole communities by the military. But the FG insists that the demand is not feasible as the Constitution stipulates that the proceeds from these resources shall be managed as may be prescribed by the National Assembly. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) made the submission in preliminary objection to a class suit filed by the group at the Federal High Court, Yenagoa. The Government also contended that the compensation for pollution of gas flaring was the duty of the companies, and the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to try such matters.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Shell Flow Station Blown up in Delta

A militant group in the Niger-Delta, Peoples Patriotic Revolutionary Force, on Tuesday said it had attacked a flow station operated by Shell in Delta State. The group said the attack signaled the end of its romance with the Federal Government in respect of the amnesty programme. Spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col Timothy Antigha, refused comments on the claim. But Shell’s Media Relations Manager, Tony Okonedo, confirmed the attack, stating that there was no casualty and no crude oil production was lost as the facility was unmanned and not producing.

Edo Youths Vow to Blow Up Oil Installations

Youths from Orhionmwon LGA of Edo State have vowed to blow up oil installations in the area, if the N3.3 billion Oben/Umoghun-Nokhua/Orogho road contract which was awarded two years ago by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, was not completed. The youths, who stormed the NDDC office in Benin on Tuesday, lamented that the contract was abandoned due to the fact that it was awarded to a foreign contractor. The angry youths vowed not to allow any foreign contractors in their area. They urged the NDDC to award the contract to an indigenous contractor in the interest of peace. Reacting to the issues raised by the protesters, State Coordinator of the Commission, Patrick Ighodala, said it was the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) hat had the power to give or approve contracts.

Father, Children Found Dead

A middle-aged man identified as Idris Abdulahi and two of his children were found dead, penultimate Sunday morning at their residence on the outskirts of Benin, Edo State. The pregnant wife was rescued in a state of unconsciousness but lost the unborn. Though the cause of the death has not been confirmed, neighbours said it may have arisen from exhaust fumes, which they may have inhaled from their power-generating set, said to have been kept in their bathroom. But a doctor treating the woman, disagreed that they died of exhaust fume, saying it must have been from an intake of poisonous substance.

Edo CP Declares War on Kidnapping, Robbery

The new Commissioner of Police for Edo State, Mr Kachi Udeoji, has said there will be no place for kidnapping, robbery, indiscipline, corruption and other crimes in the state. Udeoji pledged to leave no stone unturned in reducing these menaces to the minimum in the state. The CP spoke on Thursday in Benin City, during his maiden press briefing in the state, adding that his intention was to achieve a crime-free Edo State through strategies and tactics that were legitimate. Udeoji added that he had zero tolerance for corruption and would not broach any act of corruption or indiscipline, even from among officers and men of the state police command.

Edo Assembly Complex Faces Bomb Scare

There was pandemonium at the premises of the Edo state House of Assembly Monday, when bomb detective experts at the Edo state Police Command uncovered an explosive device suspected to be a bomb by the side of the complex. The bomb was discovered by one of the mobile policemen, guarding the complex since the leadership crisis engulfed the Assembly last Monday. There has been tension in the state since the Action Congress (AC) members in the House engaged their Peoples Democratic party (PDP) colleagues in a free for all fight, which eventually led to the change of the leadership by the 13 AC members who elected Bright Omokhodion as the new Speaker. But Zakawanu Garuba insisted that he remains the Speaker.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Five Killed In Chieftaincy Tussle

A prince and four others have been confirmed dead in the chieftaincy crisis rocking Ijoko community, of Ifo LGA in Ogun State. The crisis, last weekend, led to the burning of more than 80 shops and 40 houses. It was gathered that the crisis started when some members of a contending family to the throne attacked members of another family, penultimate Saturday, to stop them from building a house on a disputed land in the country.

Three Killed in Multiple Bank Robberies

Three persons feared dead while about twenty others were injured in multiple bank robberies which occurred in Ilesa, Osun state, when over 15 armed men forced their way into the banks after they had riddled the security doors with bullets. A police team dispatched to the scene caught up with the robbers before they escaped through Omi-Eran–Ijebu-Jesa end of the town but had to retreat when they observed that the robbers were equipped with sophisticated weapons.

Police Dismantle Fraudsters’ Shrine

Detectives at the Oyo State Police Command have burst a syndicate, which operated a shrine along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. Members of the syndicate were alleged to have presented themselves as herbalists, who made hapless victims, especially, barren women flood the shrine and in the process, get duped. Their activities were exposed when the leader, Arise Abdulsalam, 41, collected N20, 000 from a woman, promising to make her to conceive, a promise which turned out to be ruse, and she quickly reported to the police.

Gunmen Slay Businessman, Rob Judge, Ex-Guber Candidate

About six gunmen on Thursday killed the Managing Director of Lagos -based Citicom Nigeria Limited, Mr Cyril Adegbenro.  Adegbenro was killed at a point between the Ala Police Station and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) station by the men who rode on motor cycles. This follows two robberies on Wednesday in which another businessman, Mr Dayo Ogunmolayi, 49, was shot by armed robbers who operated in like manner in Ondo state, and one in which a four man gang robbed a judge and the former gubernatorial candidate of Action Congress (AC), Hon Ademola Adegoroye after they withdrew money from a bank. But quick response of the police made the robbers to flee with the bag that contained the money and the pistol of the judge’s police orderly. Police Public Relations Officer, Aremu Adeniran, confirmed this.

NAFDAC Arrests Man for Distributing Fake Drugs

A middle-aged man, Olumiyiwa Akintayo, was on Wednesday arrested in Ilorin by officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for allegedly distributing fake drugs to unsuspecting persons. The Kwara State Unit Head of the Agency, Mrs. Phebean Odu, who disclosed this after an enforcement and mop-up operations across the state explained that the suspect was apprehended following a tip-off from the Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists Employers, NAGPPE.

Couple Die in Abeokuta Accident

A couple in Abeokuta Ogun State was burnt to death in an accident when their motorcycle had a collision with a car, and immediately went up in flames. The incident, according to eyewitness account, happened at Night when the motorbike, ran into the car coming from the opposite direction. It was learnt that the motorcycle had no headlight which made it difficult for on-coming vehicle to notice it. Attempts by sympathisers to save the couple were abortive, as water was not available to put out the fire.

Police Seek Collaboration with Military on Crime Fighting

Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone Two, Mr. Azubuko Udah, has harped on the need for the military and the police to share intelligence to fight crime. Udah, who spoke during a visit to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, said sharing intelligence reports with the military was necessary for adequate protection of the country. He urged members of the military and police hierarchy to discard egotism, explaining that this inflated feeling of pride of one service’s superiority to others hampers the synergy between the services in the area of intelligence sharing. Rear Admiral Ibrahim commended the effort of the police in the combat of crime.

Group Petition Lagos CP, DPP over Extra-Judicial Killings

A civil society organisation, Access to Justice, has asked Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, to ensure that the policeman, Corporal Abu Bolaji, who shot and killed 3 unarmed persons at Yaba in October 2009 does not go unpunished. Executive Director of the group, Mr. Joseph Otteh, said it was worrisome that four months after the unfortunate incident, there has not been any evidence of credible investigation by the police, adding that it was sad that the Commissioner has not deemed it fit to monitor the progress of the case.

Police, Bike Robbers in Shootout

Suspected armed robbers engaged policemen in a shootout in broad daylight, penultimate Sunday, along the Badagry Expressway. The incident occurred when anti-robbery policemen on patrol sighted three armed men on an unmarked motorcycle and chased them, but the men opened fire on the police. The police retaliated and in the process one of the suspects was reportedly arrested with bullet wounds while the two others escaped. But the suspect later died in a hospital. The Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Command, Mr. Frank Mba, confirmed the incident, adding that two locally-made pistols, one live cartridge and a motorcycle were recovered.

GENERAL

Fresh Violence in Jos Claims Dozens

Dozens of villagers were killed Sunday in Jos, Plateau state in what appears to be a fresh bout of violence between Muslims and Christians. The witnesses and local aid officials reported widespread bloodshed but varying death tolls in the village of Dogo Nahawa, just south of the Nigerian city Jos. Red Cross volunteers counted "more than 30 bodies, including women and children, while, a local journalist said he counted in the same village over 120 dead bodies of mostly women and children. Troops moved Sunday to contain the violence, say these witnesses. However, Nigerian police, military and government officials didn't respond to requests for comment.

Militia Men Kill Five in Benue

Five persons were killed last weekend following an invasion of Iyortyom Village in Benue State by over 60 militiamen, shooting sporadically. The militiamen were said to have stormed the community after they got information that the leader of a rival militia group, popularly called "Ghana", was taking refuge in his mother's home in the village. Ghana is on the wanted list of the Police. But Ghana and his group had got information on the invasion and fled the village. Angered by not meeting their target, the invaders burnt down the homes of the mother of Ghana and other relatives within the compound. They went further to shoot at unarmed persons in the compound. The State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Mohammed, said that he was yet to receive the details of the attack.

Civil Defence Corps to Bear Arms

Baring any further hitches, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would this year begin to carry arms in line with its mandate to complement the activities of other security agencies. Minister of Interior, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha, said the internal security of the nation was of utmost importance and as such all measures would be put in place to ensure internal security. A member of the House of Representatives Committee on Interior, Austin Nwachukwu, has confirmed that the NSCDC will get the license to bear arms soon as fund to acquire arms for the corps was captured in the 2010 budget.

Scientists Task Govt on Rising Temperature

Scientists and researchers in Africa have raised alarm that the current temperature across Nigeria may increase over time. The team, in a statement issued at the end of a conference held in Ibadan, Nigeria; advocated the adoption of mitigation measures by the Federal Government to respond to the anticipated climate change. The participants at the conference on 'Integrating Climate Change', called on the government to take advantage of the predicted climate change by increasing food production, as well as ensuring that pipelines are henceforth made of alloy, of higher tensile strength and hardness. They also called for the integration of research findings with policy formulation and implementation.

Police Officer Found Dead In Office

A senior police officer in Abuja, Chief Superintendent Bala Audu, was Tuesday found dead in his office. Audu, who was the Officer-in-Charge of the Command’s Provost, had no accommodation and sleeps in his office at the headquarters of the Police Command in Garki 2 Abuja. FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Moshood Jimoh, confirmed the death of the officer and said “it was a sudden and unnatural death” He said the deceased was not found with any injury on his body and did not complain of illness prior to his death. He also ruled out suicide, but promised investigation to determine the exact cause of death.

Governors Agree for Yar’Adua to Remain President

The 36 State Governors on Tuesday agreed that the issue of removal of President Yar’Adua was not a viable option for the resolution of the nation’s political crisis. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, said the governors resolved that the president remained the president while the Acting President remained the Acting President, as they expressed satisfaction at the way Jonathan has continued to govern the country. But the House of Representatives went into a rowdy session as a group of lawmakers took exception at the alleged disregard shown by  some of Yar Adua’s aides  to the Acting President, and interpreted it as a disregard for the parliament, which proclaimed Jonathan as Acting President; and canvassed for the commencement of impeachment process against Yar’ Adua. This was vehemently opposed by others.

Shell Warned against Shutting of Gas Plants

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mohammed Barkindo has cautioned Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) against shutting down any gas plant in the country, saying that the non-evacuation of condensate alleged by Shell was not enough reason for the firm to subject Nigerians to darkness due to the non-supply of gas to the power plants. Barkindo declared that the NNPC was not under any obligation to clear the wet condensate from the sites. The NNPC Wednesday urged Lawmakers to focus legislative efforts creating laws to check the rising spate of pipeline vandalism in the country.

US, Nigeria Sign MoU on Air Marshals against Terrorism

Nigeria and the United States (US) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on training and deployment of air marshals. With this, the armed Air Marshals from both countries can accompany flights to and from both countries to provide security for passengers and crew. Leader of the American Federal Air Marshals and Regional Security with the United States Embassy, Mr. John Myer, made this disclosure during a visit to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Mr. Babatunde Omotoba.  Myer noted that under the MoU, the US would provide training for Nigerian air marshals under a plan to be jointly determined by both countries.

Military Pledges Loyalty to Acting President, Constitution

The nation’s Armed Forces on Wednesday pledged their unalloyed loyalty to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan and the Constitution of the Federal Republic.
The undertaking of the military was conveyed to the leadership of the House of Representatives by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, at a closed door meeting over the deployment of troops by the Brigade of Guards to secure the arrival of ailing President Yar’Adua from Saudi Arabia, without informing the Acting President. It was learnt that the CDS defended the deployment of troops, assuring that it was a routine exercise in line of duty to protect the president and his family. Chairman of Committee on Defence, Hon. Oluwole Oke, confirmed the assurance of the military to defend democracy.

Army Sends 10 Battalions for Peacekeeping

Chief of Army Staff, Abdurrahman Dambazzau, disclosed on Thursday that the Nigerian Army is sending over 10 battalions to different peace keeping missions across the world this year. Dambazzau said the Army is to partner the Centre for Management Development (CMD) in order to sharpen the skills of its officers and men in information communication technology, general communication, language acquisition and general management development. The Army Chief, while noting that Nigeria was the largest troop contributor in maintaining world peace, added that Nigeria inducted 10 battalions into peace keeping in 2009, and more is expected this year.

Senate Probes Purported Robbery on Benin-Lagos Road

The Senate, Wednesday, constituted an eight-man committee to probe an armed robbery attack said to have taken place penultimate Thursday afternoon along Benin-Lagos expressway in which the robbers, at gunpoint, ordered the driver of a luxury bus to run over passengers who didn’t have anything on them. The senate also summoned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo, to explain steps being taken to halt the seeming drift into anarchy, as they called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. The Senate Committee on Police Affairs was equally directed to investigate the capacity of the police to check such dastardly act and others against budgetary provisions made over the years and report back within six weeks. A senator warned that this might mark the early signs of anarchy, if not quickly checked. But Onovo disproved the story, saying that the incident took place on July 31, 2009 and the people were crushed by a vehicle which lost control, after they were ordered to sit on the road.

Ministry Alleges Incapacity of Police to Check Crimes

The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Yakubu Ibrahim Lame, has noted that rising cases of extra-judicial killings, human rights violations, robberies, high profile assassinations were testimonies to the sheer incapacity or wilful defiance by the police to recommendations and assignment at hand. But the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo, disagreed with the minister’s evaluation, noting that the force has been operating under unhealthy environment, characterised by firearms proliferation, high unemployment rate, and other vices.

CSO, ADC Face Inquest over Yar'Adua's Return

The mystery and drama surrounding President Yar'Adua's return may soon be unraveled as all agencies and persons involved now face an inquest. The Chief Security Officer to the President, Yusuf Mohammed Tilde, Yar'Adua's aide-de-camp, Mustapha Onoyveta and another security of staff officer (SO) are reportedly being queried on the roles the President’s travel to and from Saudi Arabia by the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS). The army is also dealing with the aide-de-camp, a Colonel. According to reports, none of the agency heads was hinted of the President's movement.

Meningitis Outbreak Claims 22 Children in Bauchi

About 22 children have died in an outbreak of Cerebra Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in the last two months in Bauchi State. Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA) Dr. Musa Dambam, who disclosed this said about 138 cases of the disease were recorded in 15 of the 20 LGAs of the state between January and February. Dambam said the Agency had intensified surveillance and conducted contact immunisation in the affected areas, to curtail the disease. But in Jigawa state, acute shortage of Cerebral Spinal Meningitis, CSM, vaccines has caused the death of 19 people in the last three months, according to government officials.

INTERNATIONAL

Over 700 Dead in Chile Quake

Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet, penultimate Sunday, said the earthquake which hit the country, at the weekend, has claimed over 708 lives. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake, which severed the country’s main highway and strategic infrastructure and damaged 1.5 million homes,   is regarded as one of the most powerful recorded. It was reported that five Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific Ocean as far as Alaska, Japan and New Zealand. According to her, about two million people had been affected by the earthquake, which the United States Geological Service said is the world’s fifth strongest since 1900.

86 Dead as Landslide Hits East Uganda

Rescuers in the remote corner of eastern Ugandan on Wednesday used hand tools to dig through the thick rivers of mud that engulfed three villages, burying worshippers in a church and over 50 students who had sought refuge at a hospital. President Yoweri Museveni arrived at the villages by helicopter and ordered remaining residents to move away from the sliding hillsides. Army helicopters began ferrying residents to an area about 10 miles (20 kilometres) away. At least, four people were rescued from the wreckage, two days after the mudslides began, while over 250 are missing, said Kevin Nabutuwa of the Red Cross. The death toll stood at 86.

India's Navy Plane Crashes at Air Show

An Indian naval plane crashed at an air show in the city of Hyderabad killing both pilots, injuring four persons and destroying some buildings, during the Indian Aviation 2010 show which opened on Wednesday. An inquiry is being ordered to find out what caused the crash. Indian fighter jets have pounded mock enemy bunkers close to the Pakistan border in a show of air power. The exercise followed the first official talks between India and Pakistan since the militant attacks in Mumbai in 2008. The talks ended with an agreement to keep in touch.

Somali Rebels Stop UN Food Operations

Hardline Islamist rebel group, Al Shabaab, in Somalia has ordered the United Nations (UN) food agency to halt all operations and leave the country. The group alleges that the agency's food distribution had negatively impacted local farmers and accused it of handing out expired food and of harbouring covert political aims. Anyone found working with the agency after the order was issued would be considered an accomplice to the organisation's schemes and guilty of aiding in the destruction of the economy, Al Shabaab said in the statement. The UN Food Agricultural Organisation estimates that nearly half of the Somali population needs aid and the country has the world's highest malnutrition levels.

Europe Storms Kills Over 46

At least 46 people have been killed and over a million households affected by hurricane-force winds, surging seas and driving rain that swept through Western Europe last weekend. Gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour and eight metre high waves battered the western coast of France, spreading floods inland. Air sea rescue and police helicopters were in action over the region, attempting to locate flood victims marooned on roofs. Air France said 70 flights out of 700 were cancelled. The storm brought chaos to transport networks across Western Europe.

Cop Arrested for Sexual Assault

San Antonio Police, penultimate Thursday, arrested an officer, Craig Nash, on charges of sexual assault and official oppression. Nash is accused of raping a transgendered person during his shift Thursday morning. The victim claims the 39-year-old officer was in full uniform and driving a SAPD patrol car before the incident happened. Police Chief, William McManus, frowned at the action of the officer. Investigators said they were able to use the department's GPS system, which tracks all police vehicles, to validate the victim's allegations.

Russia, Georgia Reopen Border Crossing

Regional rivals Georgia and Russia have reopened their only usable land border crossing, restoring a vital transport route that had been closed since 2006. The reopening of the crossing is expected primarily to benefit Armenia, which had relied on it for trade with Russia. Georgian deputy foreign minister Nino Kalandadze said that the opening "does not mean warming" in ties with Russia and that Georgia's consent "was motivated exclusively by our will to give a helping hand to our neighbour Armenia." An EU official expressed hope that the opening bodes well for regional stability.

Hundreds Feared Killed in Fresh Darfur Clashes

Hundreds of civilians are feared to have died in a surge of fighting between the Sudanese army and rebels in the turbulent Darfur region, according to reports. But a Sudan army spokesman denied any fighting in the region and accused insurgents of harassing and attacking locals. The source said at least 40,000 civilians had fled the fighting between the government and Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) rebels. Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, declared the seven- year war over last Wednesday after reaching an initial settlement with the separate rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Darfur's most powerful rebel force.

30 Feared Dead in Iraqi Suicide Blasts

A string of three deadly suicide bombings killed 30 people and wounded 48 in the Iraqi city of Baqouba on Wednesday, including a blast from a suicide bomber who rode in an ambulance with the wounded before detonating at a hospital, police said. The bombings come as Iraq is preparing for its March 7 parliamentary elections. The crucial balloting will decide who will oversee the country as U.S. forces go home. Officials have warned repeatedly that insurgents were expected to launch such attacks in an attempt to disrupt the crucial vote. A man purporting to be Abu Omar al-Baghdadi -the leader of an al-Qaida front group in Iraq -has vowed to violently disrupt the vote.

Artillery, Gun Battle in Mogadishu Claims 14

At least 10 civilians and four militants have been killed in a gun battle between Islamists and government forces in Somali capital, Mogadishu. Resident Sa'id Ahmed said the fighting started late Tuesday when government forces moved into an insurgent-held neighborhood of Mogadishu. He said the soldiers killed four al-Shabab fighters before militant reinforcements arrived.

Millions of Nigeriens Face Famine –Junta Leader

Millions of people are threatened by famine in Niger, according to the country’s military ruler, Major Salou Djibo. This contrasts with Ousted President Mamadou Tandja, his predecessor's reluctance to talk about food shortages. Djibo also said the junta was committed to tackling impunity, corruption and the abuse of power. The coup, as well as subsequent promises to clear up Niger's politics and business, has been well received in Niger. But the international community, which criticised the coup, fears that a return to civilian rule could be delayed by an open-ended attempt to attack corruption.

Congolese Soldiers on Trial for Mayhem, Rape

The army of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has begun trying some of the soldiers accused of a five-day orgy of rape and pillage in a small town in the east of the country, one of a string of such incidents in the war-torn region. A civil society group that has investigated the case, according to the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) said soldiers who had not been paid plundered more than 60 per cent of the shops in the town of Kasugho and raped 25 women in the incident last October. Sexual violence committed by warring factions has now become endemic in the eastern DRC and the number of women raped in the area topped 8,000 last year, according to UN estimates.

UN Accuses Egypt of Killing Migrants

Worried by incessant killings, the United Nations' human rights chief has asked Egypt to stop shooting unarmed African migrants trying to enter Israel via the Sinai Desert and said 60 of them had been killed since July 2007. Navi Pillay, United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, called Egypt to urgently launch a credible inquiry into the alleged killings by some Egyptian security forces. Egyptian police have allegedly killed nine migrants this year. Dozens more have been wounded or have disappeared, according to her statement. The victims, who include several women and at least one child, were all on the Egyptian side of the Sinai border with Israel.

Hundreds Homeless as Zambezi River Overflows

Flooding along the Zambezi River has forced more than 900 people to flee from their homes in the central Mozambican province of Sofala. The region became flooded as it faced heavy rains that flooded the Zambezi and its tributaries. The government is working to evacuate people who are in low-lying areas, government spokesman, Henrique Banze, said. Banze added that Mozambican authorities needed to work with their counterparts in neighbouring Zimbabwe and Malawi to limit the release of water from upstream dams along the Zambezi and its tributaries. Mozambique is frequently challenged by flooding during its rainy season. Deadly floods in 2000 and 2007 forced tens of thousands from their homes.

Two Muslim Protesters Killed in India

Two Muslim protesters in India were killed in clashes with police after an article, which challenges the Muslim practice of veil wearing, appeared in local papers. The offices of two newspapers, which carried the article, were also attacked. But the journalist to whom the article was credited has denied writing the article. She said an article she had written had been translated into the Kannada language and "doctored" to malign her. Muslims said her work was offensive to them. Nasreen fled to her native Bangladesh in 1994, after receiving death threats relating to a book she had written. She left India in 2008 after further protests and went to live in Sweden. The appearance of the article in the Kannada Prabha newspaper, on Tuesday night, triggered protests in the Shimoga and Hassan areas.