Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 14

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Cult Clash Claims 4 in Bayelsa

Four persons were killed on Saturday in Ekeremor, Bayelsa State during the local government elections in the state. But the state Police Commissioner, Onuoha Udeka, said the deceased were victims of a clash between rival cult groups, which had nothing to do with the election. The violence was, however, confined to Ekeremor LGA, the stronghold of the Deputy Governor of the state, Peremobowei Ebebi. It was gathered that the rivalry between Ebebi and Governor Timipre Sylva over the control of the political machinery of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) maybe responsible for the clash as the party’s candidate in the election belongs to the Governor’s faction.

Two Killed in Ezza, Ezillo Renewed Clash

Gunmen, Monday, killed two persons, including a police officer, in the Ezza Ezillo communal clash in Ebonyi state. The gun wielding men shut the Enugu-Abakaliki highway from use by motorists, and injured about 18 persons. The police have claimed the arrest of seven persons in connection with the clashes. The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ogbonna Onovo, was said to have ordered the arrest of over 41 Ezza political office holders, suspected to be financing the bloody clash that has claimed over 400 lives, in the past two years.

Man Drives Car into Aircraft

A taxi driver on Thursday rammed his vehicle into an Arik airline plane at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar. An eyewitness said the cab went through the two gates of the Air Force Station into the airport, without any resistance, and drove straight to the tarmac and hit the underbelly of the plane. About 200 passengers on board were successfully evacuated. The driver was arrested by security agents. Upon his arrest, the driver claimed that his mission was to blow up the plane and the passengers since according to him, Nigerians are unrepentant sinners. Security agents condoned off the area while an anti-bomb squad from the police combed the taxi and the surroundings, but no bomb was found.

Imo Court Sentences Two to Death for Murder

An Imo State High Court has sentenced two persons, Vincent Ogueri and Boniface Nwachukwu, to death by hanging for murder. They were arraigned before the court for alleged involvement in the murder of a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Chief Ogbonnaya Uche, on 10 February 2003. Uche died following injuries he sustained in a brutal attack by gunmen at his residence on 8 February 2003.

Army Wants Better Relations with Media, Civilians

Major-General Mohammed Isah, GOC, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, has called for improved relations between the military and the civil populace. He made the call on Tuesday, in Enugu, at a three-day training workshop organised by the Directorate of Army Public Relations. Isah said such improved relations had become imperative at a time the army was being re-professionalised. He also emphasised the need for public relations personnel of the Nigerian Army to live up to their responsibilities of shaping and positively projecting its image. Isah urged media practitioners to use the power of the profession to build a virile nation by upholding the virtues of accuracy and objectivity as well as giving due consideration to the issue of national security.

Oil Worker Kidnapped In Port Harcourt

Gunmen, Wednesday, kidnapped an employee of oil giant, Total, in Port Harcourt. This comes after an alleged threat by a militant group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to target the French firm. But police spokesperson, Rita Innoma-Abbey said that the police are yet to identify those responsible for the kidnap. Abbey said the man was kidnapped as he drove his car outside the city of Port Harcourt around 6:30am, and that investigators continued to look for clues in the attack.

Erosion Sacks Communities in Imo

Indigenes and residents of three communities in Obowo LGA of Imo State have been displaced by erosion. The monarch of the Okwuneze Igwe community, Eze Eddy Nkwo, appealed to the relevant government authorities to assist the victims, who are now seeking refuge.

Kidnappers Demand N250m for Industrialist

A N250 million ransom has been demanded by the kidnappers of an Onitsha-based businessman and industrialist, Chief Fimbars Ofodum. Ofodum was kidnapped at Nkwo Igboukwu Market, in Auguta LGA of Anambra state, penultimate Sunday. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the kidnap. Ofordum is the Managing Director of Oquism Group of companies and a known contributor to the fight against violent crimes in the state. Meanwhile, Anambra State police command has commended vigilance groups in the state for their assistance in helping the police to curb violent crimes.

Mobil, Community Argue over Oil Spill

Another Crude oil leak, suspected to be from the pipelines of Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) at Qua Iboe oil fields, was reportedly noticed, penultimate weekend, along Ibeno coastline in Akwa Ibom state, by fishermen. The development was said to have been reported to MPN management, which confirmed the spill, but declined responsibility, saying that its processing facilities were operating at normal conditions. Mobil’s refusal to accept responsibility has built up tension and suspicion between the community and the company. The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has directed Mobil to clean up the spill site because it occurred within its operational area.

Varsity Don Raises Fresh Alarm over Niger Bridge

A Hydro Geologist and Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Boniface Egboka, has raised an alarm over the condition of the ailing 50 year–old Niger Bridge, with a warning that the bridge may collapse anytime soon, if nothing is done urgently to save it. Egboka said that it was dangerous to be playing politics with the bridge, considering its economic importance. Following similar concern, raised last year, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, inspected the bridge and embarked on minor repairs work, after which they said that the existing bridge had been fortified. But Egboka said there was still danger.

Ekiti Police Smash Notorious Robbery Gang

The Police have smashed a notorious 20-man armed robbery gang, which allegedly killed an Ekiti politician, Mr. Kehinde Fasubaa, on 3 January 2009, as well as the officer in charge of SARS, Ekiti State, CSP Mohammed Manua and over 20 Police officers between 2008 and January this year. The gang is said to have killed Oba Joseph Adeleye Oritsagbemi, and his driver on the 29th of January this year, as well as the Acting Provost of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Dr. G. O. Olowoyo and his driver same day, amongst other kidnapping cases. One of the leading gang members confessed that they were sent to kill Fasubaa but could not finger any body, saying that an intermediary gave them the job.

Suspect Arrested with Gun in Bible

A twenty-five-year-old 400level student and robbery suspect has been arrested by the Anambra Police Command. He was said to have been caught at a criminal hideout where he concealed his gun inside the Bible at Awkuzu in Oyi LGA of the state. The accused denied police reports, saying rather that he was a cultist and was on a mission to harass another student who, according to him, was disturbing his girlfriend, but later changed the story to say that he had the gun only to protect himself because the guy who was harassing his girlfriend threatened to kill him.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Gunmen Shoot Dead US-Based Doctor in Benin

Suspected assassins, penultimate weekend, shot dead a United States-based doctor, Charles Ndulue, along Sapele road, Benin City. Eye witness account said the bandits who were four in number, shot at the vehicle tyres which halted the movement of his vehicle, pumped several bullets into him, and collected his cell phones and a necklace before they disappeared. Ndulue, it was learnt, was driving home after church with a lady suspected to be a house maid and his little son when the dare-devil bandits struck. The Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Ogboi, who confirmed the incident, said a team of detectives had been assigned to unearth the killers. Also, a suspected armed robber was shot dead along Ugbowo Road, after a shootout between the police and a gang of robbers.

Air Force Get Maritime Surveillance Aircraft

The second ART-42 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (NAF 931) purchased by the Federal Government was on Tuesday delivered to the 81 Air Maritime Group in Benin. The first of the Aircrafts was unveiled in December last year. The aircraft are to be employed by the Air Force in conjunction with the Navy in the patrol of the country’s maritime region. The ART-42 patrol aircraft has a performance cruising speed of 350km/h, maximum speed of 555km/h, a range of 3,740 km and service ceiling of 7,600m (25,00feet). It also has triple sensors arrangement, high resolution infrared camera, high resolution colour acquisition television, automatic tracker, and 360 degree continuous azimuth scanning among other devices.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Ajegunle Youths Protest Police Brutality

Ajegunle, a surburb of Lagos State, on Saturday, witnessed unrest as some angry youths, staged a protest to register their displeasure over what they described as the “unbecoming and overbearing tendencies” of policemen. About three persons may have been killed, in the wake of the violent protest. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Frank Mba, confirmed the violence but said the police rose up to the challenge of maintaining law and order in the area. The protest initially began peacefully but became violent following the alleged killing of a 23-year-old boy by policemen said to be from Ajegunle Police Station -a development, which the protesting youths said, needed to be looked into by the police high command.

Mother, Kids Detained over Narcotics in Underwear

Anti Narcotics agents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos have arrested a couple, after finding cocaine stuffed down the underwear of the mother and two six-year old twins as they tried to board a plane for London, Penultimate Sunday. The woman was carrying more than three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of cocaine while her children carried a total of around 700 grams, security official disclosed.

Man to Die for Murder of Wife’s Lover

A 50-year old man, Mathew Ahungur, was sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Raheem Siyanbola of Osun State High Court for killing his wife’s supposed lover in 2005. Matthew was said to have murdered Prince Sunday Adedoyin, whom he accused of having affairs with his wife, Felicia. It was gathered that on the fateful day, Matthew, who had been suspecting his wife’s romance with Sunday, has warned Sunday to leave his wife. But allegedly laughed and even boasted that he was going to Felicia’s shop, and actually went there. Argument and fighting then ensued between the men and in a fit of anger, Mathew attacked Sunday with cutlass.

Fraudulent Estate Developer in EFCC Net

A Lagos-based estate developer, Olabamiji Kayode, who allegedly swindled 100 accommodation seekers of N27.8 million, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Kayode allegedly collected various amounts of money from 100 persons for rooms meant for only 16 tenants. The chaos he caused continued before the victims came to their senses and became united by the common problem to fight the common enemy. In the midst of the crisis, the suspect disappeared, leaving the hundred victims to their own fate.

Police Patrol Ado-Ekiti over Increased Cult Attacks

The new Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr. Katso Kakwe, has said that various security agencies in the state will meet to fashion out a strategy to dislodge cultists from the state. Fear has gripped residents of Ado-Ekiti following Monday’s incident where suspected cultists killed two undergraduates and injured two others. The CP also paraded 12 suspected criminals, including an 82-year-old man, who allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl. He said that security agencies would henceforth make the state hot for cultists. Kakwe said that the command had arrested some suspected cultists in connection with an earlier cult attack in February.

Three Importers Jailed for Defrauding FG

A Lagos High Court, Wednesday, jailed three importers for defrauding the Federal Government of N214 million in import duty. The convicts were found guilty on 18 of the 26-count charge against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court sentenced them to 10 and three years imprisonment. The sentence will run concurrently. They will also pay restitution to the Federal Government.

Man Arrested for Illegal Manufacture of Arms

A 35-year-old man, Sunday Adedeji, has been apprehended by the Kwara State Police Command, over alleged illegal manufacture and possession of arms and ammunition. The Police alleged that Adedeji is also a member of a robbery gang. Adedeji, an auto technician at Kambi village, was said to have told his investigators that the weapons recovered from him were manufactured in Kontagora, Niger State. According to the Police Commissioner, Mr. Murhta Ibrahim, police recovered a local Revolver, single barrel gun, shotgun, charms, and cutlasses, among others, from the suspect.

Senator Wants Oyo NURTW Factions Disarmed

Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Lekan Balogun, penultimate Sunday, alleged that leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state were behind the failed attack on him, penultimate Tuesday. The PDP chieftain had been at loggerheads with the state government over the control of the party in the state. But the NURTW leadership has since denied the allegation. Meanwhile, the state Police Commissioner, Baba Bolanta, has said that investigation into the matter had commenced.

Gunmen Shoot Firm's Chief in Osun

Gunmen reportedly stormed some private homes and shot a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a private firm at Ilesa, Osun state penultimate Sunday. It was learnt that that the victim who was shot, could not provide the N3 million demanded by the gunmen. It was uncertain whether he survived the attack. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Solomon Olusegun, said that the incident might be an assassination attempt.

Govt Begins Installation of 3D Scanners at MMA

The Federal Government has begun the installation of 3D body scanners at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The installation of the two machines is first of the 10 acquired by the government in the wake of last December 25 attempt by a Nigeria, Farouk Abdulmattalab, to blow up an American airliner in Detroit, and would be mounted at the nation’s four international airports. General Manager, Public Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Mr. Akin Olukunle, confirmed this and said training of personnel to man the machines would commence soon.

Police Parade Woman for Bathing Husband with Acid

The Ogun State Police Command, on Monday, paraded a suspect, Mrs Beatrice Safiu, for allegedly pouring acid on her husband, which later killed him. The deceased, Mr Oluwatoyin Safiu, 45 years, was killed when Beatrice learnt that his mistress had just had a baby. The suspect confessed that she was in possession of the killer substance used in washing the engine of their truck, lamenting that she regretted her actions. The command also paraded 21 others suspected of armed robbery, shop breaking, vehicle snatching and possession of fake military uniform and currency.

Seven Drivers Nabbed over Kidnap of Septuagenarian

Seven private drivers have been arrested in connection with the kidnap of a 71-year-old man, penultimate Friday, at Ikeja, Lagos. One of them was the old man’s driver. The suspects, who were paraded by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, confessed to have conspired with some other persons to kidnap the old man. The principal suspect, one Shola Aluko, who has been driving his boss for about a year, revealed that he masterminded the kidnap.

GENERAL

Police Beef Up Security in FCT

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said at the weekend that it has strengthened operations following intelligence report on imminent crisis. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Ivy Okoronkwo, said since the Plateau State crisis began, there have been rumours of a possible outbreak of similar crisis in neighbouring states. Okoronkwo said the rumours were baseless, but the police have met and are still meeting with religious leaders, traditional rulers, political office holders, opinion leaders and other stakeholders.

NDLEA Destroys Seized Indian Hemp

Over 1,225 kilograms of cannabis and psychotropic substances have been destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bauchi state. The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, disclosed that the drugs were seized from the various hideouts of drug traffickers through the concerted efforts of the state command. Giade solicited for support of all stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse in the country. He further called on stakeholders to intensify drug control efforts as he identified illicit drug trafficking as a major threat to political stability in West Africa. He challenged those who are of the opinion that illicit drugs are only a threat to developed countries to have a rethink, but gave assurance that the situation is not helpless.

Gombe Loses Two Senators in One Week

Gombe State, during the week, lost two Senators in two separate incidents. While the first, Senator Tawar Umbi Wada, died at the National Hospital, Abuja, last Wednesday at the age of 53; the second, Senator Kawu Peto Dukku, 52, died at the Guardian Specialist Hospital in Kaduna, after a brief illness, on Friday. Dukku was the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on States and Local Government Affairs. The Chair on the Committee on Information and Media, Ayogu Eze, confirmed this. Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Usman Bayero Nafada, described the death of the senators as a great loss to Nigeria.

Police, Immigration Beef Up Security in Borno over Boko Haram

The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Immigrations Service (NIS) personnel in the border areas with Niger, Chad, and Cameroun have intensified patrols and surveillance to check the rumoured infiltration of the Boko Haram sect members into Borno and neighbouring states. It was gathered that some members of the Islamic sect had returned to Borno State at the weekend, with alleged intention of hiding under the cloak of the recent ethnic and religious crises in Jos to "unleash violence" on Maiduguri residents through a supposed Jihad (holy war). According to the police source, "some of the fundamentalists had infiltrated the commercial motorcyclists in the state, while targeting unsuspecting passengers, who may not share their religious ideology.

Pharmacists Move Against Sale of Fake Drugs in Kano

Pharmacists in Kano State have unveiled measures to check the sale of fake drugs in the state. Chairman of the state chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed Mohammed Gana, who unveiled the steps, called for an end to the open sale of regulated drugs to curb the menace. He said the sale of adulterated drugs would persist but was optimistic that the placement of PSN insignia in drug shops would assist the public to locate genuine dealers.

NAFDAC Creates Marine Division to Combat Smuggling

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said it has uncovered illegal routes being used for cross-border smuggling of fake drugs. Its coordinator for Seme Command in Lagos State, Mr Stanley Atabor, said that the agency had mapped out strategies to check smuggling of fake drugs into the country through the land borders. To this end, he said a marine division had been created to combat the menace. Atabor said the agency would also deploy patrol boats to check smuggling of food and drugs from neighbouring countries.

NYSC Redeploys 665 Corps Members from Plateau

The poor security situation in Jos, Plateau State, has compelled the authorities of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to redeploy some 665 corps members from the state. And for the courage and patriotism they displayed by remaining behind, the other 351 corps members have been awarded N5 million by the state Governor Jonah Jang. Jang said that the state government would make effort to create an enabling environment for the corps members to offer their services to the nation.

Farmer Gets 15 Years Sentence for Killing Man over N200

A High Court in Maiduguri has sentenced a 30 year-old farmer, Awuza, of Mallam Zari village in Bama LGA of Borno State for killing another farmer, Bulama Mustapha, over N200. The accused claimed that he and the deceased, had an agreement that the deceased was to clear his farm land at the cost of N350.00 and he gave him an advance of N200, saying the balance of N150.00 would be paid after the work was completed, but the deceased didn’t clear the farm and that when he confronted the deceased to return the N200, they started arguing. Awuza added that he immediately went to the district head of their village, Lawan Biri, and reported himself.

AGF Withdraws Case against Ribadu

In what is seen as a prelude to his appointment as Special Adviser to the Acting President on Anti-Corruption, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has applied to the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for the withdrawal of the case of non-declaration of assets instituted against the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The Acting Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Murtala A. Sani (SAN), advised the prosecuting counsel to formalise its application for withdrawal of the case for proper documentation at its next sitting on Thursday, April 8, 2010. The former EFCC chairman also said he was ready to return to the country to be part of the process of reconstruction desperately needed in the society.

General’s Wife Escapes Gunmen

The wife of a Nigerian Army General currently serving as Liberia's Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs. Mariam Wuraola Abdulrahmman, escaped death, penultimate Sunday when a six-man gang of suspected assassins stormed her Nigerian Army Post Service Housing Scheme residence in Abuja. The gun men invaded the house, which is usually guarded by armed soldiers around 2.am, and operated in the apartment of the general's wife and that of another neighbour where she took refuge until 5.am without any intrusion. Mrs. Abdulrahman, who hid in a neighbours’ house, stressed that they were assassins because they did not take anything and threatened to kill the people they met if they did not tell them her whereabouts.

Ghadaffi Apologises for Comments on Nigeria

Libyan Leader, Colonel Mamman Ghadaffi, on Thursday began an apologetic moves aimed at healing wounds inflicted on Nigeria, following the diplomatic row that resulted from his call for the splitting of Nigeria to avoid further bloodshed. This is coming on the heels of Acting President Goodluck Jonathan’s warning that African leaders should exercise restraint while making statements that affect the psychology of the people and governments of other countries of the continent. Ghadaffi’s move was announced at a meeting between Jonathan and the Liberian President, Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, who led a high power delegation of the Libyan government to broker rapprochement between Nigeria and Libya.

US Increases Terror Alert Status in Nigeria

The United States Embassy in Nigeria said on Wednesday it had raised its security alert status because of “continuing worldwide terrorist threats against U.S. citizens, its government facilities, and U.S. interests. It warned its citizens visiting the U.S. diplomatic missions in Abuja and Lagos to report any suspicious activity to mission’s security, and that they should maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.

US Dumps Terror Watch List

The United States will implement new airline security measures this month to replace mandatory screening of air travellers from 14 countries, including Nigeria. Based on the new measures, the US has ditched the list of 14 countries as the measures supersede that list. Under the new measures, all travellers to the US will be affected and not just travellers from Nigeria and 13 other countries that were short listed by the US last January as either “sponsors of state terrorism” or “countries of interest”. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, said the Transportation Security Administration will begin the new enhanced security measures for all air carriers with international flights to the US.

INTERNATIONAL

Israel Threatens More Attacks on Gaza

Israel has warned that a wide scale military operation against Gaza could follow a string of air strikes, which injured three Palestinian children. The strikes, on the western part of Gaza City, came in response to rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza into southern Israel. Almost 20 rockets were fired out of Gaza last month, one of them killing a Thai farm worker in southern Israel. Two Israeli soldiers were killed in a border clash recently. Israel's deputy Prime Minister, Silvan Shalom, is threatening an escalation in Israeli military activity if the rocket fire does not stop. Hamas claims it has been trying to restrain the rocket fire among its own militants and other groups.

WHO Raises Issues on Health Hazards of Climate Change

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has alerted on the enormous and diverse effects of climate change on health. It said areas with weak health infrastructure - will be the least able to cope without assistance. The WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, said continuing climate change will affect, in profoundly adverse ways, some of the most fundamental determinants of health: Food, air and water.

UN Alleges Mass Killing, Kidnap by Rebels in Congo

A December rampage that allegedly killed 321 persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo went largely unreported because of lack of communications in the remote area, a United Nations official disclosed penultimate Sunday. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) allegedly carried out the brutal campaign in northeastern Congo over four days and abducted 250 others, according to the Human Rights Watch. Alan Doss, a UN Special Representative for Congo, confirmed the massacre. But a spokesman for the LRA, Justin Labeja, described the accusation as "baseless”. A Ugandan army spokesman has also cast doubt on the figures, saying that the population in the area is so spread out that it is unlikely so many people died.

100 Indian Sailors, Vessels Hijacked by Pirates

India said it is searching for about 100 sailors on seven Indian vessels taken captive by Somali pirates, recently. According to initial reports, the Indian vessels were on their way to the United Arab Emirates from Somalia, when they were attacked by the pirates, who seized their boats. Crew members of an Indian vessel, recently released by the pirates, on Tuesday said that several vessels with Indian sailors had been hijacked by pirates in the last few days. India‘s Navy has a warship stationed near the Gulf of Aden and it has thwarted dozens of hijacking attempts and escorted vessels passing through the region regularly.

Pirates Hijack Ghanaian Vessel

A Nigerian naval officer says pirates have seized a Ghanaian ship and kidnapped two sailors for ransom. The hijacking, reportedly took place off the coast of Cameroun. Commodore David Nabaida, on Tuesday, said that pirates took control of the MV Gull and kidnapped its captain and an officer on board once they found nothing worth stealing. The penultimate Saturday‘s attack occurred near the Bakassi peninsula.

Woman in Kuwait to Hang over Fatal Wedding Fire

A court sentenced a Kuwaiti woman to hang on Tuesday for the deaths of 57 women and children, who perished in a tent fire during celebrations to mark her husband‘s taking of a second wife. The court found Nasra al-Enezi, 24, guilty of arson and murder. Prosecutors accused Enezi of burning down the tent to sabotage the wedding. She had confessed to police but denied the accusations in court saying she was at home at the time of the fire. The tent, which could seat 200 people, had only one exit, causing a stampede that increased the death toll.

Chinese Farmer Hangs Self in Protest

A farmer in central China‘s Henan province hanged himself on Tuesday to protest the treatment meted to him by local agriculture officials. Peng Gonglin was found dead in front of the office of the county seed management station. Peng had been seeking compensation for the losses he suffered after being sold sub-standard rice seeds. In his suicide note, Peng wrote that he felt his request for compensation was “hopeless” after he was jostled and beaten by staff at the county seed management station on Monday and said he wanted to arouse government attention with his suicide.

Twelve Teenagers Charged with Murder at Victoria Station

Twelve teenagers have been charged with the penultimate Thursday murder of a 15-year-old boy, Sofyen Belamouadden, who was stabbed at an Underground station in central London. Seven other youths have been bailed by police. Police recovered two knives from the scene of the stabbing. The 12 charged youths, ages 16 to 18, are expected to appear in Court later. Police believe a fight at the station had been pre-arranged. It is also understood that on Wednesday night up to 15 teenagers had clashed there. A shopkeeper at the station said youngsters had been causing trouble there over the past few weeks.

Families Visit Site of Sunken South Korean Ship

Relatives of 46 crew members missing after a mysterious explosion sank a South Korean navy ship sailed around the site, penultimate weekend as rescue teams struggled to search for survivors. No bodies have been found after 58 sailors were rescued from the ship that sank penultimate Saturday near the tense border with North Korea. The exact cause of the explosion remained unclear. Fierce waves and high winds have hampered the search in an area where the two Koreas have fought three bloody naval engagements since 1999. Despite the location of the sinking, North Korea did not appear to be involved.

123 Trapped in China Coal Mine Collapse

Tragedy struck in China penultimate weekend as 123 workers were trapped in a flooded coal mine under construction where 261 people were working. But 138 managed to escape. China's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with safety standards often ignored in the quest for profits and the drive to meet surging demand for coal. The mine is undergoing infrastructure construction and is expected to produce six million tonnes of coal each year once put into operation, according to the company's website.

50 Killed in Russian Suicide Attacks

Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on packed metro trains in the Russia’s capital of Moscow on Monday, killing at least 38 people. The Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, vowed that those behind the rush-hour attacks would be destroyed in what has been described as the deadliest attack in Moscow for half a decade. In another blasts, two suicide bombers including one impersonating a police officer killed at least 12 people and injured 18 others in the southern Russian province of Dagestan on Wednesday. Nine police officers were among the dead. A Chechen rebel leader, Dokku Umarov, claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying that they are in revenge for what he called a "massacre conducted by the Russian occupants against the poorest residents of Chechnya and Ingushetia”.

Corpses of 21 Babies Discovered in China River

Bodies of 21 babies have been discovered in plastic bags in a river in eastern China and authorities suspect they were dumped there by local hospitals, state media reported Tuesday. An initial investigation showed that eight of the 21 babies wore identification tags on their feet tracing them back to Jining Medical College Hospital in Shandong province. The other 13 were unidentified. Three of the eight were admitted to the hospital in critical condition, the report said. It did not say when they were admitted.

Taliban Insurgents Attack Checkpoint, Kill 6

Pakistani troops repulsed a Taliban attack on a checkpoint close to the Afghan border on Wednesday in fighting that killed six soldiers and 25 insurgents, the armed forces said. Pakistan has carried out a series of operations in the border region over the last 18 months, but the militants have proved resilient foes. A statement from Pakistan's paramilitary Frontier Corps said the attackers used several suicide car bombs, but that soldiers fought back, destroying the vehicles during the clash. At least 15 soldiers also were wounded in the attack. Also Wednesday, at least six alleged insurgents were killed by suspected U.S. missiles in the nearby tribal region of North Waziristan, two Pakistani intelligence officials said.

8 Killed in Southern Afghan Bicycle Bombing

Eight people were killed in a bicycle bombing in southern Afghanistan and 38 others injured. The bomb concealed on a bicycle exploded near people who had gathered to receive free vegetable seeds provided by the British government as part of a program to encourage them not to plant opium poppy, provincial government spokesman Daoud Ahmadi said. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the bombing.

Pakistani Forces Kill 26 Taliban in Orakzai

Pakistani fighter planes bombed Taliban positions in the northwestern tribal region of Orakzai on Tuesday, killing 26 militants and destroying some of their hideouts, a government official said. Homegrown Taliban militants are seeking to topple the U.S-backed government of President Asif Ali Zardari. Pakistan's military has recently stepped up operations against militants in Orakzai. Security officials say forces killed about 100 militants in clashes penultimate week, but there has been no independent verification of these figures.

Iranian Agents Rescue Kidnapped Diplomat in Pakistan

Iran's intelligence agents mounted a cross-border mission, Tuesday, and freed an Iranian diplomat kidnapped in 2008 by gunmen in northwestern Pakistan, reports say. The agents rescued Heshmatollah Attarzadeh of Iran's Peshawar consulate "in a complicated intelligence operation" and took him back to Iran the report said. Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi said that Iran had asked Pakistan to free the diplomat, but it failed. Attarzadeh and his Pakistani bodyguard were driving in Peshawar on November 13, 2008 when two gunmen blocked their way with a car and opened fire. The attackers fled with the diplomat after killing the guard.

Flooding Threatens East Coast

A second major storm in less than a month continued to drench the East Coast as meteorologists predicted "very dangerous" flooding Tuesday in the Northeast. The National Weather Service called on commuters to be prepared to travel alternate routes in case of washed-out roads and posted flood warnings and advisories from Maine to the Carolinas, with as much as 5 to 7 inches of rain expected over the coming days. The storm hits as the Northeast works to recover from a storm March 13-15 that dropped as much as much as 10 inches of rain, causing several rivers to rise and flooding basements throughout the region.

Ten Students Dead in Mexico

Ten children, youths and young adults between the ages of 8 and 21 were gunned down, presumably by drug traffickers, in the northern Mexican state of Durango, the state's attorney general said Monday. The incident happened Sunday on a road near the town of Pueblo Nuevo in southern Durango. Attorney General, Daniel Garcia Leal, said that unknown gunmen who had set up a fake checkpoint on the road shot and even threw grenades at the victims, who were on a truck, returning to their homes after having traveled to pick up money to support their school as part of a government social program.

Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Blacks

A Tennessee man accused of planning a "killing spree" against African-Americans in a 2008 plot that included then-presidential candidate, Barack Obama, as a target, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges in connection with the crime. Daniel Cowart, 21, admitted to conspiring with one Paul Schlesselman of West Helena, in planning to kill more than 100 African-Americans. The two are self-described white supremacists. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 15. Cowart faces up to 75 years in prison under his plea agreement, the Justice Department said.