Weekly Security Report Weekly Report week 22 week 22
PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS
Traditional Ruler, Wife Nabbed over Kidnapping
The Police in Enugu state has arrested and detained a traditional ruler who allegedly made his palace available for custody of kidnapped victims. Igwe Cornelius Nomeh and his wife, Ngozi, were picked up by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Enugu, in connection with the abduction of a 20-year-old medical student, Miss Ifeoma Azubuike. A policeman in mufti, who witnessed the abduction, gave precise information and the police stormed the palace and rescued the victim. Three of the suspected kidnappers were arrested, while five others are still at large. The state’s Commissioner of Police (CP), Mohammed H. Zarewa, described the incident as unfortunate and assured the people of Enugu state about his command’s readiness to give responsive policing.
300 Kidnappers Surrender Arms in Abia, Accept Amnesty
Over 300 kidnappers in communities in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State have surrendered their weapons and embraced the amnesty programme of the state government. Their representatives, led by Mr. Steve John, made this known to Governor Theodore Orji when they visited him at the Government House, Umuahia. John who is also the second-in-command to the group, referred to as "Umuoma", assured the state government that their repentance was genuine. John explained that he became involved in kidnapping following the neglect of his area, Ukwa West LGA, which is an oil-producing community. According to him the area lacked basic amenities.
Mother of Three Stabbed to Death in Owerri
A pregnant mother of three, identified as Ijeoma, was on Monday morning brutally murdered by unknown persons in Owerri. The late Ijeoma had reportedly received a telephone call the previous night to come out early on Monday and sell fish to them, which she obliged. A sympathiser said the late woman’s assailants may have used a broken bottle to stab her severally, adding that her torchlight, handbag and mobile telephone were not stolen by the assailants. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aloysius Okorie, confirmed the story, adding that Owerri Urban Police Division had already made some arrests.
Nine Dead in Port Harcourt Auto Crash
Nine persons were on Tuesday confirmed dead in an auto crash that occurred along Onne Road, Rivers State. The crash involved a vehicle belonging to a kidnapped victim, being driven by one of the suspected abductors. The vehicle, according to an eyewitness, was moving on a high speed when it suddenly swerved off the road and hit people sitting in a make shift canteen. According to the witness nine persons died instantly while four others were taken to Teme Clinic for treatment. The suspected kidnappers escaped before the arrival of the police to the scene. The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Rita Inoma-Abbey, confirmed the incident, and said the police were on trail and would arrest the suspect.
Abia Commissioner Abducted
…as Kidnappers Demand N20m for Assembly Aspirant
A commissioner with the Abia State Local Government Service Commission, Mr Cherechi Nwogu was kidnapped on Tuesday. The commissioner was said to be going to work in Umuahia when he ran into an ambush laid by the kidnappers at Osisioma. Mr. Ijoma Kalu, head, media and publicity of the commission, confirmed the incident, adding that the abductors had not opened any channel of contact with them. Meanwhile, abductors of the former Action Congress (AC) councillor in the state, Omen Olujie, and brother to the Secretary of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) have demanded a N20 million ransom before Saturday or he would be killed. Olujie was kidnapped, penultimate weekend in Ukwa East LGA after the hoodlums shot dead two policemen and a civilian.
Agip Production Drops in Bayelsa
Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) has told the Bayelsa State government that due to the activities of illegal oil bunkerers, the company’s oil production capacity has declined from 55,000 to 38,000 barrels per day in the state. The bunkerers break into the company’s pipelines system and siphon oil undetected despite the presence of security operatives, according to Managing Director, Mr. Ciro Antonio Pagano. Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government has set up a tripartite committee to arrest illegal bunkering in the state. The committee called the Investment Recovery Team is made up of Bayelsa State Government officials, representatives of oil companies and security agencies, according to the Acting Commissioner for Information, Hon. Nathan Egba.
Two Soldiers Killed As Robbers Raid Anambra Banks
A gang of 20 armed robbers, on Tuesday, raided three banks in Ihiala, Anambra State, using grenades to blow up strong rooms of the banks. But a combined team of soldiers and policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) swooped on them, resulting in a fierce gun battle. In the process, the soldiers were reportedly killed, while five of the bandits were arrested, and their looted of N6 million was recovered. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, could not ascertain the identity of the slain soldiers but he confirmed the arrest of five members of the gang. Chukwuemeka confirmed that seven AK47 riffles, two general purpose machine guns and two rocket propelled grenade were recovered from the gang.
FG Directs Ex-militants Back to Camps
The Federal Government has directed all ex-militant leaders and their followers to go back to their camps in the creeks, while warning that the ban on possession of firearms is still in force. The directive was given by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, Mr. Timi Alaibe, during a meeting with ex-militant leaders. Disclosing this, in Yenagoa on behalf of the Peace Keeping Ex-Militant Forum (PKEMF), Reuben Wilson a.k.a General Pastor, said the directive followed a meeting between government officials and the ex-militant leaders. According to Pastor, Alaibe reassured and convinced them of the sincerity of the Federal Government towards the implementation of the post-amnesty plan.
Council Boss, Deputy Arraigned For Alleged Murder
Chairman of Calabar-South Local Council in Cross River State, Mr. Andem Bassey and his Deputy, Mrs. Marjorie Asuquo, have been charged to court for alleged murder. The two were charged before the Chief Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday by the state Police Command after 10 days in police detention, for a May 11, 2010, killing along Palace Road. However, when the charges were read, both Bassey and Asuquo pleaded not guilty. They were asked to be taken back to the Police Headquarters and matter was adjourned.
Imo Doctors Threaten Strike over Abducted Colleague
Doctors in Imo State have threatened to down tools unless their kidnapped colleague, Dr. Polycarp Nwabueze, was released within two days by the kidnappers. Chairman, Imo State branch of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Jide Egwim, on Thursday, stated that the action was to press home their protest against the kidnap of doctors in the state. Egwim lamented the ordeals of Dr. Anthony Ihedoro, Dr. Davidson Anyanwu and others, who were victims of the heinous crime
Akwa Ibom Assembly Gets New Speaker
Hon. Aniete Etuk was, on Wednesday elected as the new Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The former Speaker, Hon. Ignatius Edet who briefly presided over the sitting tendered his resignation letter immediately after the proceeding of the last sitting of the House was read and passed. However, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Okon Uwah, who was equally impeached along side the former speaker, survived the saga as he was reinstated by members for being innocent of the allegations earlier brought against him.
IGP Ordered to Produce Officer Linked with Student’s Murder
An Enugu High Court has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, to produce the police officer, Inspector Victor Ugwu, on trial for the murder of a student, Mr. Chukwuebuka Omeje. Omeje, a senior secondary school student, was allegedly killed in June last year by a team of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on the guise that he was a kidnapper. But a colleague of the deceased, who survived the attack, claimed that plain-clothes policemen in an unmarked vehicle opened fire on Omeje at a bus stop when they were returning from a religious activity. When the trial commenced yesterday, counsel to the state and the Omejes, expressed dissatisfaction that the suspect said to have been detained at the Force Headquarters, Abuja was not brought to the court.
BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS
Police Uncover Illegal Orphanage, Rescue Pregnant Teenagers
The Delta State Police Command has uncovered an illegal orphanage where it claimed that babies are sold in Asaba. The Command’s spokesman, Charles Muka, said the orphanage, Mary’s Perpetual Help, is owned by one Johnmary Ihueze, who has been arrested. Muka disclosed that Ihueze also kept pregnant girls who are coerced into signing off their babies upon delivery, adding that six pregnant girls, including a 14- year-old, were rescued. The police also rescued six girls from human traffickers at Ekpan, and arrested seven suspects and a native doctor preparing them for their journey abroad. In another development the police also exhumed two unidentified corpses in an uncompleted building on the Benin-Asaba Expressway after a tip-off. Muka said efforts were being made to arrest the perpetrators.
Robbers Burn Police Vehicles in Edo
Travellers on the Benin-Lagos Road near Ogbemudia Farms in Edo State were on Wednesday morning held hostage by armed robbers. The bandits allegedly dispossessed the road users of their possessions but spared their lives. Three police vehicles on patrol were also set ablaze by the robbers after the policemen on duty allegedly abandoned them and ran away, due to the superior firing power of the hoodlums. A senior police officer confirmed the incident said two of their vehicles were burnt. Just 24 hours later, armed robbers struck again, killing two drivers in the same area. An eye witness said the incident happened in the early hours of the day and those affected were mostly night travellers and newspaper delivery vehicles.
Edo Dentist Abducted
A dentist with the Central Hospital, Benin City, Dr. Osaro Osifo, was on Monday evening kidnapped as he arrived at his residence after the day’s work at about 7.30 pm. According to sources, the kidnappers have contacted the family with a N5 million ransom demand. The state chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, on Tuesday condemned the incident. But the state police command could not confirm the incident, as the police spokesman, Peter Ogboi, promised to get details.
Warri Community Protest Against Chevron
Activities at the Warri administrative office of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) were stalled on Monday following a protest by women and youths from Ekpan Community. The protesters, who set up a shrine and slaughtered a chicken and goat to appease the gods, and sprinkled the blood on coffins draped in red, were also armed with machetes and other traditional paraphernalia. Security operatives took some distance away from the scene and watched proceedings, which was largely peaceful. The Chairman of Ekpan Development Committee, Franklin Akemu, who led the protest, decried the poor treatment meted out by Chevron to its host, Ekpan Community.
LAGOS AND ENVIRONS
Fuel Fire Kills Pregnant Woman in Lagos
A pregnant woman and one other person on Tuesday lost their lives to a fuel tanker fire incident that claimed about 20 vehicles at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Tanker Terminal, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos. Eyewitnesses attributed the cause of the fire to ‘illegal transfer of petroleum products’ from one tanker to another at the park. Investigations revealed that the fire started with a spark from generator used to pump the fuel from one tanker to the other. Men of the state fire service arrived minutes later to battle the fire. Men of the Lagos State Police Command were on ground to maintain security.
Air Line Deploys New Security Gadgets at Airport
As part of measures to ensure security of airports across the country, Arik Air has acquired hi-tech security equipment, Morpho Itemiser that could detect all manner of drugs and explosives. The equipment, according to the airline, will complement efforts of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to guarantee safety and security at airports. With the equipment, the airline was able to arrest a computer smuggling ring on one of its international flights and a gang that was trying to smuggle watches and jewellery into a flight. Arik Air’s Acting Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue, disclosed this in Lagos, last weekend.
Islamic Cleric Defiles Girl, 14
A Lagos-based Islamic cleric has been arrested by the police for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl in a mosque. The 52-year-old suspect, simply identified as Alfa Okah, has denied defiling the girl but confessed inserting his fingers in her private part. The victim’s guardian, Marian, reported to the police that the victim had been missing for some weeks. During interrogation, it was found out that Okah, who had been having an affair with the girl, knew her whereabouts and later took the police to where he kept her.
NDLEA Destroys Hemp Farm in Ekiti
The Ekiti State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered six farms measuring about 70 acres of land used for illicit cannabis cultivation at Omuaran camp, Eseorun Council area. A seven-man syndicate, including two Ghanaians was arrested while working on the plantations. The six farms have also been destroyed and the command is making efforts to arrest all persons connected to the illicit act. According to the State Commander of the Agency, Mr. Bamidele Akingbade, the all-year- round cultivation of cannabis has increased the risk level of Ekiti in terms of illicit drug cultivation, trafficking and abuse.
Lagos Police Kills Robber, Arrest Another
The anti-robbery squad of the Denton Police Station on Thursday shot a suspected armed robber and arrested another, while a third member escaped during a shootout with the police. The robbers, in an unregistered Toyota Camry, ran into the officers while on stop and search routine at about 5.30a.m, and quickly opened fire at the police. Items recovered from the robbers include one locally made pistol and a revolver. The arrested suspect, who was said to be seriously injured, is being interrogated at the police station.
Woman Steals Baby from Beer Parlour
A toddler, Morenikeji Bilikisu Sadiq has been stolen from her mother’s beer parlour in Lagos by a lady who gave her name as Amarachi. Amarachi stole the toddler, penultimate Sunday, in connivance with a middle aged man who has been arrested by the police. It was alleged that the man later tricked the stolen girl’s 8-year old brother who was playing with her to go and buy biscuit. He later took the child from his brother and gave her to Amarachi who in turn absconded with the baby. Luck, however, ran out on him as the toddler’s grandmother, on realising that her grandchild was missing, raised an alarm which attracted passersby. The man was later arrested and handed over to the police.
GENERAL
Police Get Aircraft for 2011 Polls
The Police High Command has received 12 aircrafts that would be deployed on election monitoring duties across the federation for the 2011 polls. A police source revealed that the aircrafts are already in Abuja and would soon be sent to the different police zones. It was learnt that the aircraft were also ordered to replace the old ones currently grounded at the police air wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Also, the Police High Command has concluded plans to build state-of-the-art hospitals across the 36 states to carter for the health needs of policemen nationwide. The plan to build the hospitals was prompted by the series of casualties suffered by policemen while on duty over the years, especially in gun duels with men of the underworld.
One Dead, Others Injured in Jos Reprisal
Following the murder of three Fulani herdsmen at Tusung Village in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, penultimate Saturday, some Christians, who were returning from their place of worship the next day, were attacked, leaving one dead and many others injured. The corpses of the three Fulani herdsmen killed on Saturday had been buried in a shallow grave in Tusung by people suspected to be Berom youths. Men of the Military Special Task Force (STF) in the state had exhumed the bodies. The display of the bodies at the mosque for prayers before burial might have agitated the Muslim youths in the area to begin demonstration, and the attacks. A special task force on Tuesday arrested eight people in connection with the killing.
Police Seek Public Information on Criminals
The Nigeria Police has begun the deployment of personnel to trouble spots in the country, as the nation prepares for next year’s election. In Oyo State, the police command is however seeking public cooperation on the hideouts of criminals for proper action. The police chief in the state, Baba Adisa Bolanta at the launch of the Ibadan unit of the ''seven cities project' confessed that the task of exposing the criminals was too much for his command and solicited for reliable information on criminals from members of the public. Bolanta said that the specially trained squad for the project includes police patrol team on horses, motorcycles and in patrol vehicles while they are trained to take care of grey areas and dark spots.
Ribadu Reinstated, Retired as AIG
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has been reinstated as Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and retired effective December 22, 2008. Ribadu was removed as EFCC Chairman in 2008 and was subsequently demoted by the Police Service Commission (PSC) to a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DPC) and was sacked following his refusal to report at his new post, but he took the PSC to court over the matter. Chairman of the PSC, Mr. Parry Osayande, acknowledged on Tuesday that Ribadu would get the full entitlements of a retired AIG. The PSC also approved the promotion of two Commissioners of Police to the rank of AIG. It also dismissed 5 Assistant Superintends of Police (ASP) for indiscipline and recommended two for prosecution.
Police Campaign against Extrajudicial Killing
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, has deployed all six Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) to all the zonal commands across the country, in an assignment tagged, ‘a trouble-shooting mission’. The assignment borders on instructing the rank and file of the police, on their relationship with members of the public. All officers were charged to always be in firm control of their jurisdictions, failure of which they would be held accountable for lapses reported in their domains. The IGP warned that henceforth, any officer that engages in extrajudicial killing would not be dismissed from the service, but rather would be made to defray legal charges in the event litigation arises in view of thousands of pending cases in court.
FG Pledges More Support for Military
Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Murtala Yar’Adua, has expressed the willingness of the Federal Government to assist in the training and provision of logistic to military formations across the country. The nation’s Armed Forces, he said, will be provided the necessary tools that will transform them for optimum performance which will raise their capability to defend the country’s territorial integrity. The minister stated this in Makurdi on Tuesday, while on an inspection visit to defence formation in the state. He urged the Air Force not to relent on the work carried out on the upgrade of facilities at the Command which he described as satisfactory but continue to strife for more excellence.
Falling Tree Branch Kills 8 in Benue
Eight persons were crushed to death and several wounded by a falling tree branch in Ikyobo Village in Ushongo LGA of Benue state on Wednesday morning. According to an eyewitness, the unfortunate incident occurred at a market square when traders were busy displaying their wares. The eyewitness who explained that the large tree called Genge has over the years been a sit out point for children and adults who gather underneath to play or hold important discussions. He noted that there was neither rainstorm nor wind which could have triggered the sudden falling off of the tree branch, adding that the development was still a mystery.
Senate Leader Tasks Youths on Violence
Senate leader, Teslim Folarin, on Wednesday, charged Nigerian youths to resist being used by politicians as thugs in next year’s elections. Folarin, in a statement in commemoration, of this year’s Children’s Day, said the advice was necessary to ensure credible polls in 2011 and sustenance of the country’s democracy. Also, the Group Chief Operating Officer of telecommunications giant, Globacom, Mr Mohamed Jameel, urged parents to encourage their children to aspire to achieve the highest level of excellence on the path to realising their dreams.
Nigerian Killed as 32 others are Arrested in Poland
A yet-to-be-identified Nigerian was shot dead in the Polish capital of Warsaw last weekend after a struggle with policemen who chased him through an open-air market. Traders pelted officers with bricks, in the process, police said after making arrests of 32 persons suspected to be Nigerians, Police Spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski, said. According to witnesses, the man tried to wrestle a gun away from a policeman when it went off, he said. A police officer was also wounded. Investigators have opened an inquiry into the circumstances of the man's death.
Nigeria, US Sign Pact on Free Polls, Anti-Corruption
Nigeria and the United States, Thursday, signed a pact to fight corruption and also see to the conduct of free and fair elections in 2011. Visiting US Under-Secretary of State for Global Affairs Maria Otero said collaboration in these areas would help the country defeat corruption at all levels. The Solicitor General of the Federation who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice Ahmed Yola signed for Nigeria while Otero signed for the US. A joint statement said both countries are committed to building the capacity of anti-crime institutions as well as their agents and personnel in the country.
Nigerien Plucks Boy’s Eyes for Rituals
A 20-year-old man from Niger Republic, resident in Kaduna, was arrested recently along four others for allegedly plucking the two eyes of a 10-year-old boy for rituals. The culprit said one Mallam asked him to get the two eyes, which he promised to use in preparing charms that would make him invincible. The culprit said it was a chief priest, and one other person who promised to pay me one million naira if I could bring the fresh human eyes to prepare charm for invisibility. But the other man, also arrested, denied his involvement; while the 63-year-old chief priest, who was caught by the police with the fresh eyes, initially admitted all allegations, but later said that the Nigerien brought the fresh human eyes to him for safekeeping.
Igbeke Sworn-in as Senator
After a prolonged game of wits in which it cited the matter in court as restraint, the Senate, Tuesday, swore in Alphonsus Igbeke of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) as senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District. He will spend about a year in the Senate, the greater part of his tenure having been expended by Senator Joy Emordi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He had won his suit against Emordi at the Court of Appeal in Enugu. But his oath taking was stalled on many occasions by the Upper House following the decision by Emordi to return to the same Court of Appeal to seek interpretation of the judgment and the earlier one in which the court declared her as validly elected.
Publisher’s Car Set Ablaze in Benue
The residence of a Makurdi, Benue-based publisher, Maurice Tsav, on Monday night was attacked as unknown gunmen set his car ablaze and inflicted machete cuts on his driver, Mr. Apine Tyosar. Tsav, who publishes a periodic newspaper (The Alternative), alleged that a state government official was being behind the attack. Tsav stated that his reason for suspecting the official was because of a telephone conversation he had with him during which the official allegedly threatened to kill him over a story in the last edition of The Alternative. Tsav claimed that since that publication, he has been receiving strange telephone calls and text messages threatening his life, which he had reported to the police.
NEMA Pledges Better Response to Disaster
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has promised to focus on how it would respond swiftly to road, air and sea emergency situations to forestall the delay in rescue people in emergency situation. The agency also assured that it has drawn lessons from the Beech craft 1900D missing aircraft that was later discovered to have crashed in Obalinku, Cross River State in 2008. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the first Search and Rescue Commanders held in Lagos on Monday, Director General, NEMA, Air Vice Marshal Audu Bida (rtd), said there was the need to acquire more sophisticated equipment to increase the agency’s capacity, adding that NEMA had already made representation to government in this regard.
Schools Shut in Benue over Clash
To forestall further damages, Benue State government on Monday announced the immediate closure of the Government College, Makurdi and the Command Secondary School, Makurdi, following a clash among their students. The government advised all students, except those writing external examinations, to leave the campus. Over the past six years, tension has been brewing between the two schools as they share one campus, following the agreement between the state government and the Nigerian Army for the establishment of a Command Secondary School in the state. The riot left the many facilities damaged by the students who fought with machetes and other deadly weapons. No life was lost, according to the Chairman of the Parents-Teachers' Association, (PTA) of Command Secondary, Innocent Anume.
Meningitis Outbreak Kills 5 in Kaduna
No fewer than five persons died in April due to an outbreak of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis (CSM) in two LGAs of Kaduna State. The acting Commissioner for Health, Mallam Mohammed Sani-Sidi, said that the victims were below 40 years and that they included four males and one female. The state lost 12 persons between January and March. According to him, no death has been recorded in May because the government had contained the spread of the disease. He said public enlightenment campaigns through traditional institutions, faith-based civil society groups, as well as the media, would be intensified. He appealed to residents to report any outbreak to the nearest health facility to halt the epidemic
Abducted Taraba Business Man Regains Freedom
An abducted business tycoon in Taraba State, Mr. Uche Obi, who was kidnapped penultimate week, has been set free by his abductors after paying a N20 million ransom. Obi said his abductors got him as he made his way home at about 6p.m. after closing from his shop. He stressed that his kidnappers, who claimed to be new in the state, have resolved to carry out other abductions in the North-East zone. Obi’s four-day ordeal is not the first time he would encounter kidnappers, as his father was, last year, abducted in Anambra State and later set free after Obi reportedly paid a N30 million ransom.
INTERNATIONAL
Eight Survive Indian Plane Crash
About eight persons who survived from the burning remains of a plane that crashed in India, penultimate weekend have told of their escape amid scenes of horror and death. Officials said 158 of the 166 passengers and crew aboard the plane died when it overshot the runaway and plunged down a steep slope when coming in to land near the southern city of Mangalore on a flight from Dubai. The survivors jumped from the wreckage just before it burst into flames. Investigators searching for clues as to what caused crash have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the remains of the plane.
134 Killed As Heat Wave Sweeps India
No fewer than 134 persons were feared killed as a heat wave gripped India on Thursday. In some areas, temperatures rose to 50 degrees Celsius as the country awaits the yearly monsoon rains on the mainland. Streets were deserted as residents stayed indoors to escape the heat. But power cuts stopped ceiling fans, air conditioning and refrigerators, sparking protests in eastern regions. The heat wave is likely to subside within three to four days, according to B.P. Yadav, the spokesman for the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Monsoon rains, which irrigate 60 per cent of India's farms, are forecast to hit the mainland at the weekend, but have not advanced.
Two Killed, Several Wounded in Thai Twin Blasts
Twin bomb blasts rocked a town in Thailand's south on Wednesday, killing two people and wounding dozens in the latest violence of a six-year insurgency, police and hospital staff said. The rebellion across the southern provinces by a shadowy band of separatist Islamists fighting for greater autonomy in the area bordering Malaysia has left more than 4,100 people dead. At least 55 people were wounded in the blasts in Yala. The bombs were hidden on motorcycles and exploded near the business district of the town, police said, pointing the finger at Islamist militants. According to Krisada Boonrach, the Yala governor, authorities had been warned of the attack, but the warning was for May 28 to 30.
Scores Killed in Jamaican Violence
At least 71 people have been killed in Jamaica's capital in a police assault on a suspected drug lord's stronghold. Police officers, soldiers and civilians have died in the assault that began on Monday, Information Minister Daryl Vaz said. Security forces have been fighting people who want to prevent the extradition to the U.S of Christopher "Dudus" Coke that was charged by U.S with conspiracy to distribute marijuana and cocaine and with conspiracy to traffic in firearms illegally. Coke maintains a heroic reputation in the Kingston slums, and has helped the community by handing out food, sending children to school and building medical centers. The attack came after residents and armed thugs blocked roads in the area to restrict access to police and military, and even attacked some police stations.
Police Kill Opposition Members in Ethiopia
Two opposition members in Ethiopia’s Oromia region have been killed by the police after an election. The electoral board said on Tuesday the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and allied parties had won 534 seats out of 536 declared, giving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi most seats in the 547-member parliament. Government head of information, Bereket Simon, said one man was shot after trying to storm an office where ballots were being counted and the other was shot a day later by a policeman whom he had beaten during the same incident. He said there was a warrant for the policeman's arrest. A European Union observer mission said the EPRDF used state resources for campaigning; putting the opposition at a disadvantage, but this did not mean the count itself was invalid.
Militants Kill 3 in Pakistan
Insurgents in northwest Pakistan shot and killed a pro-government tribal elder, his wife and a son on Thursday, while a clash elsewhere in the volatile region left a police officer and two militants dead, authorities said. The attack on the tribal elder occurred in the Bajur tribal region near the Afghan border, where the military has twice declared victory over Taliban fighters. The insurgents attacked Toor Khan and his family after storming their house, political administrator Arshad Khan said. The slain elder had played an active role in setting up a militia force to fight the Taliban in Bajur in early 2009.
Russia Bomb Kills 8
A bombing outside a planned performance by a dance company from the restive Russian republic of Chechnya left eight people dead and over 40 wounded on Wednesday, according to the Investigation Committee of the Russian Prosecutor's Office, which called the explosion "an act of terror." Early reports indicate the bomb was detonated by remote control, said Yekaterina Danilova, a spokeswoman for the committee. The device was packed with small metal objects meant to inflict maximum harm, she said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesday's bombing. But Islamist groups from the North Caucasus have been behind a string of recent attacks.
71 Killed as Rebels Derail Indian Train
Maoist rebels derailed a passenger train into the path of a freight train in eastern India on Friday, killing at least 71 people, police said. It was the latest in a series of deadly Maoist attacks that have put the government under intense pressure to consider deploying the military to contain the growing insurgency. Police warned the death toll would rise with dozens more bodies feared trapped in the mangled wreckage. Railways Minister, Mamata Banerjee, said the train had been derailed by a "severe bomb blast", but officials said they were also looking at evidence that metal plates used to secure adjoining sections of track had been removed. The Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities claimed responsibility for the attack. More than 120 people were reported injured.
Volcano Erupts near Guatemala City
Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom called for calm as a volcanic eruption spread ash over the capital, prompting evacuations and shutting down the city's international airport. A journalist was reportedly killed when he was hit by debris from the volcano, while four others are missing. At least 1,800 people have been placed in shelters after four villages near the volcano were evacuated, said David de Leon, a spokesman for the national disaster commission. Pacaya volcano, located about 25 km south of Guatemala City, began spewing ash and soot about 7pm on Thursday.
Islamist Militants Attack Mosques in Pakistan; 70 Feared Killed
At least 7 suspected Islamist militants attacked two mosques packed with hundreds of worshippers from a minority sect in eastern Pakistan on Friday, laying siege to one centre in a standoff with police, officials and witnesses said. More than 70 people died, and dozens were wounded, Lahore's deputy commissioner Sajjad Bhutta said. The assaults in Lahore against the Ahmadi community illustrate the threat minority religious groups face in Pakistan, a Muslim-majority nation whose long-time struggle with sectarianism has been exacerbated by the violent rise of the Sunni extremist Taliban and al-Qaida movements. Ahmadis are reviled as heretics by mainstream Muslims for their belief that their sect's founder was a saviour foretold by the Quran.
North, South Koreans Tension Deepens
South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak, has vowed “stern action” against North Korea following a multinational investigation result that accuses North Korea of sinking of its warship in March. But North Korea called the results a fabrication and warned that any retaliation would trigger war. An international civilian-military investigation team said evidence proves a North Korean submarine fired a homing torpedo that caused a massive underwater blast that tore the Cheonan warship apart. Fifty-eight sailors were rescued, but 46 perished. North Korea has waged a slew of attacks on South Korea since the 1950-53 fighting ended, including the 1987 downing of a South Korean airliner that killed all 115 people, but it has never owned up to the attacks. The United States, has called on the world to respond, while US President, Barack Obama, has reportedly directed the military to coordinate with South Korea to deter future aggression from North Korea.
13 Killed as Troops Battles at Somaliland-Ethiopia Border
At least 13 people have died in a clash between Somalis and Ethiopian forces that crossed the border, villagers reported. They said that three Ethiopian soldiers and at least 10 residents of Buhoodle district in Somaliland were killed in a shoot-out after a dispute at a checkpoint. Residents say Ethiopia troops regularly cross into southern and central Somalia and fight Islamists controlling their towns. The conflict broke out after villagers expressed anger when soldiers searched several trucks and held them for several days, according to some elders and a district official. The forces had crossed from neighbouring Ethiopia into Somaliland - a self-declared republic - two weeks earlier. Residents said that more Ethiopian troops moved in following the confrontation.
Floods Claim 115 in China
A torrent of floods caused by heavy storms, have killed 115 people in southern China, with 21 people still missing, as the rains began to subside. Rescue teams have been dispatched to help the 685,000 people evacuated as a result of the flooding, a statement on the Ministry of Civil Affairs website said. China's rainy season, which began this month, follows the worst drought in a century for southern China. The drought affected 61 million people since last year. The floods hit 13 provinces and damaged more than 80,000 homes and affected more than 10 million people.
Somali Rebels Vow to Seize Presidential Palace
Somalia’s al Shabaab rebels have said their next target, after capturing the north of the capital, is to seize the presidential palace, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, al Shabaab’s spokesman, declared. Somalia has had no effective central government for 19 years. But dozens of nations have pledged to help Somalia build a strong police and military, following penultimate Sunday’s Islamist attacks on the presidential compound and other government positions, which left at least 15 people killed and 30 others wounded. United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, said it was time for the international community to “redouble our efforts” to help Somalia. Representatives of 55 nations and 12 international organizations - expressed “grave concern over the insecurity in Somalia.
ICC Accuses Sudan of Protecting War Crimes Suspects
Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Wednesday, accused the Sudanese government of protecting war crimes suspects instead of arresting them. The ICC had asked Sudan's government to arrest Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb for crimes committed during the Darfur crisis, where fighting has claimed the lives of more than 300,000 since 2003. The formal notification by pre-trial judges at the ICC is aimed at increasing international pressure on Sudan and its president Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who has also been charged with war crimes by the ICC. Harun, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, is charged with 42 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Kushayb, a senior Janjaweed commander, faces 50 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Opposition Journalist Charged with Terrorism
…As Al Bashir is Sworn-in
An opposition journalist has been detained in Sudan over alleged terrorism and espionage charges while his lawyers said he had been tortured in custody. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the arrest earlier this month of opposition Islamist Hassan al-Turabi and four staff members from his al-Rai al-Shaab paper. HRW urged the government to end repression of opposition politicians and press since an April election returned President Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s National Congress Party to power. Meanwhile, al-Bashir, the only sitting head of state wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC), has been sworn in after his re-election in polls marred by boycotts.