Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 23

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Police Arrest MASSOB Members in Imo

The Imo State Police Command disrupted a procession of members of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), allegedly killing three and arresting over 600 of them. The MASSOB convoy was said to be coming from different directions on their way to Okwe, the country home of their leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, for the celebration of the 44th anniversary of Biafra. Uwazuruike decried the clampdown on his members, describing it as unfair and uncalled for because his members did not conduct themselves in a disorderly manner. The State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Ibrahim Maishanu, said the police, surprised to see an influx of men in long convoy, stopped them for questioning before an argument ensued.

Ex-militants in South Africa for Training

Another batch of 137 of the former members of the Niger Delta militant groups at the weekend left for South Africa at the commencement of training in various trades that would qualify them for international vocational certification. They are to participate in a six-month training in Pretoria designed to prepare them for gainful employment in their individual businesses. The Chief Security Officer of the programme, Adewale Adekoya of the Nigerian Army, who handed down a code of conduct to the trainees, told them to ensure that they obeyed all laws of their host country.

Police Nab Two Brothers for Selling Nephew

The police in Akwa Ibom have arrested two brothers for the kidnap and sale of their three-year-old nephew. The child, who was kidnapped on April 29, 2011, was recovered on the 25th of May, 2011 in Umuahia. He had been adopted by a childless couple, who had applied to the child welfare centre there since 2009 for a child. The 20-year-old hair dresser and mother of the child, Ime Nkereuwem Asuquo, said the loss of the child was an unkind cut from relatives she was taking care of. Commissioner of police, Felix Uyanna, said that investigations were on to verify if the couple who finally adopted the child are culpable in the crime.

Robbers Attack Onitsha Market

Armed robbers, on Monday, struck at Ochanja Market in Onitsha, Anambra state, killing three people and injuring 15 others. The robbers numbering about 12, according to eyewitness account, arrived at the market at about 2.30pm and shot indiscriminately. As the shooting went on uninterrupted, the traders took to their heels, abandoning their wares, but in the process three people who were badly hit by the bullets died on the spot while about 15 others were seriously injured. One of the traders was killed on the spot, while the two other dead victims were said to be members of Onitsha Vigilance Group who ran into the robbers as they were trying to escape.

Police Quiz Aba Doctor over Alleged Human Trafficking

The Abia State Police Commissioner (CP), Mr. Bala Hassan, on Tuesday paraded about 30 pregnant teenagers in his office. The arrests were made after the police swooped on Cross Foundation Investment Heda Clinic in Aba where the medical officer in-charge, Dr. Hyacinth Orikara, was also apprehended. The suspects were arrested on suspicion of child trafficking and illegal operation of a clinic. The arrested doctor claimed that “children born in the hospital are normally handed over to social welfare Aba for adoption to interested persons” and that the Foundation was not a hospital but duly registered as a charity organisation. The Police chief said that pregnant teenagers were nursed until they were delivered of their babies after which they were sold.

Auto Crash Claims 5 Lives in Enugu

At least five persons were feared dead, on Wednesday, in a ghastly accident involving a commuter bus in Enugu State. The bus travelling from Enugu to Nsukka reportedly skidded off the road along the Nsukka-Ninth Mile Corner and crashed into the bush. Although the cause of the accident was not immediately known, the eyewitness said the driver of the Toyota commuter bus may have lost control of the vehicle because of over-speeding.

Man Rescues Self from Kidnappers, Seizes Rifle from Gang

Former state chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in Anambra, Chief Frank Igboka, on Thursday, rescued himself from the hands of kidnappers and seizing an AK47 riffle from the gang. Igboka was said to have been abducted at about 9a.m near his home by the eight-man kidnap gang. Luck shone on him when his abductors spotted a police checkpoint and made a quick u-turn giving the former lawmaker the opportunity to fall off the vehicle alongside one of the kidnappers. In the process, he was said to have forcefully seized the criminal’s AK47 rifle from him, opened fire on them, forcing the kidnapper to jump into their vehicle and they sped off before the police arrived the scene.

Armed Robbers Kill Vigilance Group Leader in Onitsha

Suspected armed robbers have reportedly laid siege on the commercial city of Onitsha. It was gathered that armed robbers have been terrorizing the residents and traders of Onitsha main market, killing and dispossessing unsuspected members of the public of their money and other valuables as the city recorded at least 4 incidents in the last week. It was gathered that the robbers had successfully robbed a bureau de change office along Menax road in the commercial city when they ran into the vigilance group and immediately opened fire on them, killing their boss on the spot. The Onitsha Police Area Commander, Larry Osita, who confirmed the incidents.

Army Beefs up Security at Barracks

Security was, last week, tightened at the Port Harcourt Army Barracks (Bori Camp). This was evident as persons and vehicles attempting to enter the premises were thoroughly screened. The development, according to some sources, might not be unconnected with the spate of bomb blasts at some barracks in the Northern part of the country. The Port Harcourt Army barracks had its own share of bomb blasts in 2006, when a militant group detonated a bomb in a car they allegedly drove into the barracks.

Nnamani, Nwatu get Bail

Former Enugu governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, was on Wednesday granted bail by an Enugu High Court. The bail was granted without conditions in a suit against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court also granted bail to Chief Jacob Nwatu, who was charged alongside Nnamani in similar circumstance and fixed September 26, 27 and 28, for definite hearing on the corruption charges preferred against them. Nnamani, Nwatu alongside four companies linked to them, are facing a 15-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and corrupt enrichment of funds belonging to the Enugu State government totalling over two billion naira, all committed in year 2002 when he was governor.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Kidnappers Demand 15m for Abducted Oil Workers

Suspected kidnappers on Wednesday demanded a ransom of N15m from the two oil workers abducted in different locations in Delta on Sunday. The kidnappers were said to have taken advantage of the deployment of most of the security men in Delta in the inauguration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, which obviously resulted in the slackening of security in Warri, one of the most crime prone areas in the Niger Delta. A source, who gave the names of the oil workers as Tom Akhidime and one Solomon Enamajewan, said that the kidnappers were already demanding the huge sum of N15m before one of them would be released.

Pastor Turned Kidnapper Nabbed in Delta

Two kidnappers were, on Thursday, arrested in Ughelli, Delta State, as they attempted collecting a ransom for the four-year-old daughter of an hotelier. One of them, said to be mastermind of the abduction, was surprisingly a pastor. It was learnt that the girl was quietly taken away in the morning last Wednesday from the premises of the hotel by a worker there. The parents alerted the police who advised them to play along with the kidnappers.  However, when the kidnappers came out to pick what was supposed to be the N4m ransom, they were shocked as policemen appeared and apprehended them.

Man Killed Fighting with Brother-in-Law

A 32-year-old man was killed on Tuesday at Agbarha-otor, Ughelli North LGA, Delta State in a scuffle with his brother-in-law. The deceased, whose name was given as Samson Mowoe, died after he was allegedly kicked on his testicles by the in-law in the violent fracas that was ignited by an unguided utterance allegedly made by the assailant, Mr. Victory, son-in-law to the deceased’s family. The police have so far arrested two persons in connection with the death of the late Samson while Victory is now at large. The DPO in charge of ‘B’ Division Agbarha-Otor confirmed the incident and said the matter was already before the state police headquarters, Asaba.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

20 Injured in Ogun Stampede

About 20 persons, last weekend sustained injuries at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The 20 persons were injured at a stampede that occurred during the inauguration ceremony of Governor Ibikunle Amosun. The stampede occurred when the crowd became uncontrollable as some of the youths who came to witness the event were trying to force their way to the main bowl of the stadium.  It took the intervention of security men at the stadium to rescue the injured persons as two ambulances were deployed to evacuate those injured to the hospital.

Five Killed, as Robbers Raid Bank in Ekiti

Armed robbers raided a branch of First Bank Plc in Ekiti state, killing about four persons, while 12 others sustained injuries in the operation that lasted for over an hour. The robbers, who reportedly came in a convoy of vehicles, used dynamites to blow open the security door at the bank on arrival. Witnesses said that the police did not come to the scene on time despite distress calls made to them. An eyewitness who identified himself as an ex-soldier, Mr. Olatunji Olaiya, said that he went to the police station in Okesa to inform the police, but the policemen refused to go to the scene. The Commissioner of Police, Olayinka Balogun, who said that his men dislodged the robbers and pursued them, however, did not mention any arrest.

Lagos CJ Grants Freedom to 7 Prisoners

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande, Wednesday, granted pardon to seven prison inmates at the Ikoyi Prison. The amnesty was part of activities marking the 2011 Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch. Akande noted that the release of the inmates would help to decongest the prison. She said some of the inmates, who were remanded in prison custody for minor offences, could also not meet their bail conditions. The chief judge reiterated the commitment of the judiciary to quick dispensation of justice, noting that substantial progress was being made on the problems of inmates awaiting trial. The prison currently had 1,590 inmates awaiting trial, while only 109 were convicted.

20 Die as Union Factions Battle in Ibadan

At least 20 people were killed in Ibadan, the Oyo state on Sunday as factions within the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) engaged in a sustained gun battle. It was learnt that the battle was a reprisal waged by a group loyal to Lamidi Mukaila (alias Auxiliary) to avenge last week’s attack by suspected loyalists of Lateef Akinsola Oloruntoki (also known as Tokyo). The union has been enmeshed in crisis after crisis. About 20 shops were burnt and 30 others looted, while about 50 vehicles were reportedly vandalised. Meanwhile, the state police command has drafted officers to the area for 24-hour patrol. The police had arrested 20 suspects in the incident last week.

Police Arrest Kidnappers of Indian in Lagos

The men of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested Bassey Ekpong, 34, for allegedly kidnapping, his friend, Pratish Joshi, a 24-year-old Indian in Lagos. The suspect also got N30.4m from the victim’s family. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, said, “Detectives from Ajah Division arrested Ekpeyong and the suspect confessed that Ubaka, 27, Koko, 28 and Biggie, 30, were members of his gang. Items recovered from the suspect include three locally-made pistols and $4,000.

Women Protest Sexual Abuse of Minors in Ekiti

A group of women, Thursday, staged a peaceful protest at the premises of Ado Ekiti High Court, decrying the high rate of sexual abuse against minors. The protest coincided with the arraignment of a 27-year-old Gbenga Ojo at the magistrate court alleged to have raped a four-year old orphan on May 30, 2011. About two weeks ago, a policeman was arrested for allegedly raping and impregnating a 12 year old student in Ado Ekiti. The protesters, led by the Women Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Mrs. Ronke Okunsanya, said that a stop must be put to such heinous act.

Five Killed in Ogun Auto Crash

At least five persons died in an accident involving an Abuja-bound commercial vehicle and a trailer at Ogere, Ogun State, on Monday. An eyewitness disclosed that the tyre of the vehicle, which was on top speed, burst and the driver lost control, ramming into a parked trailer. The Sector Commander, FRSC, Ogun State, Mr. Alfred Adeboye, confirmed that three women and two men died, while one sustained injuries. The two other men did not sustain injuries.

GENERAL

Post-Election Violence Claimed 520 Lives in Kaduna, Niger

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, on Thursday revealed that 520 persons were killed in the post-election violence in Kaduna and Niger states. He said Kaduna State accounted for 518, out this number, six were policemen the remaining two persons were killed in Niger State. The IGP also noted that 77 persons were injured in Kaduna State while 22,000 persons were displaced as a result of the crisis in the state. The police boss, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 7 Headquarters, Felix Ogbaudu, said the destruction of property was also colossal.

Blasts Rock Abuja, Kaduna, Borno

Three bomb blasts rocked Zuba near the FCT, Zaria and Maiduguri, leaving two people dead and 16 others, including children, seriously injured.  Two people died while 11 others were injured in the Zuba bombing at a beer parlour, penultimate Sunday night. The Maiduguri bombing, which took place on Monday morning, was targeted at a military patrol vehicle. No casualty was, however, recorded. The Borno State Police spokesman, Malam Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the incident. In the Zaria, Kaduna bombings, two children were also injured while on their way to fetch water in a nearby stream on Monday morning. The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Aminu Lawan, said that the injured persons were responding to treatment.

NEMA Confirms 18 Dead in Bombing of Military Baracks

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that a total of 18 people died and 31 victims hospitalised over the bomb blasts which occurred on May 29, 2011. The blasts took place in mammy market in military barracks, Bauchi and Zuba, on the outskirts of Abuja. The Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi who disclosed this in Bauchi, said that many lives were actually saved as a result of proactive approaches, preventive measures as well as prompt response of relevant agencies before and during the incidents.

Anyim is SGF

President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed former Senate president, Anyim Pius Anyim as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Anyim, who now replaces Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, was sworn in Tuesday at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa in Abuja, at noon. But while General Andrew Owoye Azazi (rtd) retained his position as National Security Adviser, the cabinet was finally dissolved with Jonathan thanking the ministers for their service.

Petinrin Vows to Stop Army, Police Clashes

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, has assured that clashes between soldiers and other security outfits, especially the Police, will not occur in the country again. Petinrin, who said this at the end of the 55th anniversary celebrations of Nigerian Navy, also said that a joint investigation of the Army and Police was on-going to unearth what actually transpired in Badagry, Lagos State, where some police officers were allegedly murdered by some soldiers. Petirin, further commended the Nigerian Navy for its efforts at securing the nation’s waterways from pirates and other criminal activities. At the event, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, also pledged to ensure better co-operation between his soldiers and the police to avert clashes.

Police Kill Robbery Suspect at Abuja

Police detectives attached to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), last weekend, engaged a gang of armed robbers to a gun duel at Lugbe, killing a suspect.  A witness said the gang members were accosted by SARS detectives on patrol, which resulted in an exchange of bullets. Reacting, Head of SARS, Chief Superintendent Ben Igweh, said the matter is still under investigation and referred our reporter to FCT Police Command. He however assured resident

Boko Haram Bombs Church, Epidemiological Centre

Fresh bomb blasts hit Maiduguri, Borno State as the state unit for disease control (epidemiological centre) and a Catholic Church were hit. The first blast occurred on Wednesday night at the epidemiological centre. A shopping centre and a house located behind the epidemiological centre were also burnt. While residents were still gripped with fear over the Wednesday explosion, another bomb hit the St. Patrick Church premises at the Post Office area, also in the heart of the city. The Boko Haram men were suspected to be behind the incident. Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the recent bombings.

FG Recalls High Commissioner to Kenya

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Kenya who doubles as Ambassador to the Seychelles, Dr Chijioke Wigwe, has been recalled by the Federal Government over allegations of assaulting his wife, Tess Iyi. Foreign ministry spokesman, Mr. Damian Agu, said the outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), has asked the top diplomat, who also represents Nigeria at the United Nations Environmental Programme and the UN Habitat in Nairobi, to return home. On May 11, Wigwe’s wife, Tess Iyi, alleged that she was assaulted and injured by the diplomat. Meanwhile, the Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) group has called on the Government to immediately arrest and prosecute the embattled ambassador for allegedly beating his wife.

Bankole, Ex-Speaker Arrested for Corruption

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Sunday arrested the immediate past speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, over alleged financial impropriety. Bankole was picked up from his home Sunday ahead of his promised voluntary surrender to answer questions, which had been planned for Monday. EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi said the immediate arrest was ordered after intelligence reports showed that "the former speaker was planning to leave Abuja for Lagos on Sunday evening and thereafter flee the country through an illegal route". The EFCC is investigating Bankole for various allegations of corruption, the latest being suspected mismanagement of a 10 billion naira bank loan the parliament obtained.

PENGASSAN Laments Insecurity

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has decried the worsening state of security occasioned by bombings and the killing. The President of PENGASSAN, Mr. Babatude Ogun, said the country was still replete with unresolved murders and other criminal cases especially the post-election violence which followed the announcement of the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the April presidential election. He called on the Federal Government to ensure implementation of its promise that those who plotted and carried out the dastardly killing of innocent Nigerians.

NASS Pass Anti-Terrorism Bill

The National Assembly has passed the Anti-terrorism bill, following the adoption of the harmonised report of its Conference Committee on the matter. Chairman of the Committee Senator Nuhu Aliyu had presented the report to the Senate. He explained that the Committee scrutinised the harmonised report thoroughly and urged members to consider it for passage. The Senate subsequently passed the harmonised report through a voice vote. The House of Representatives had earlier adopted the bill. The bill was introduced in the Senate in 2009 and in the House of Representatives in 2007. It specifically seeks to provide measures to combat terrorism in Nigeria.

Gunmen Hurl Bomb at Police Station, Policeman Killed

Barely 48 hours after the multiple bomb blasts that occurred at the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi, killing 13 and injuring 40 others, gunmen, Tuesday, hurled another bomb at a police station in Bulkachuwa town of Katagum LGA of Bauchi State, killing a police corporal. The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Abdulkadir Indabawa, confirmed there was a bomb attack on Bulkachuwa Police Station last night by unknown attackers who also fired gunshots.

Mob Lynches Robbers in Abuja

An angry mob lynched three suspected conmen popularly called ‘one chance.’ The hoodlums were said to have picked a female passenger in front of an undisclosed commercial bank where she had reportedly made some cash withdrawals. Luck, however, ran out on the conmen, when they attempted to push out the woman after they had robbed her. The Attention of passersby was drawn as the woman who was screaming and calling for help. The vehicle was intercepted and vandalised by the angry mob while the hoodlums were beaten and thrown down the Mabushi Bridge before the security operatives arrived at the scene.

Bomb Blast in Maiduguri

An early morning bomb explosion along Baga Road in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, created apprehension among the residents of the city on Monday. The explosion occurred on a day the Chief of Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, confirmed that 13 people died and 40 were injured in the blast, penultimate Sunday night at the mammy market of Shandawanka Barracks in Bauchi. Lawal Abdullahi, the state police public relations officer, confirmed the incident. Meanwhile, the police command in Borno had alerted the public over planned attacks by suspected Boko Haram members.

Shehu of Borno’s Brother Murdered

Alhaji Abbah Anas Umar El-Kanemi, younger brother of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba El-Kanemi, was on Monday night shot dead by suspected members of Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram. The gunmen reportedly stormed his residence at Maiduguri at about 9 pm and opened fire on him, before they fled. The Shehu’s brother, who incidentally is an employee of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), died on the spot. The state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the incident, adding that the police had launched investigations into the killing. He assured that the gunmen will soon be tracked down and brought to justice.

FoI Bill Passed Into Law

President Goodluck Jonathan has signed the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill into law. The bill which was passed recently by the National Assembly was last Friday conveyed to the President for his assent. Deputy Director, Information at the Presidency, O. J Abuah, said President Jonathan assented to the Bill, penultimate Saturday. The FoI Act, among others, is to make public records and information freely available and also to protect public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and protection of personal privacy.

10 Teachers Die in Katsina

Ten secondary school teachers are reported to have died of food poisoning, and several others hospitalised in Katsina.  The incident occurred last weekend at a workshop organised by the state Ministry of Education for about 650 teachers. It was gathered that soon after taking their lunch, supplied by a popular corporate caterer, some of the teachers were vomiting and afflicted by diarrhoea, and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre and the Police Clinic for medication, but 10 of them died. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident, said only one teacher died, while 19 others were hospitalised.

INTERNATIONAL

NATO Extends Mission in Libya by 90 days

Ambassadors of NATO’s 28 member states meeting in Brussels have extended the organisation mission in Libyan crisis by a further 90 days, according to NATO’s Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. This is coming as the Commander of United States Military’s Africa Command, General Carter F. Ham, raised concerns about weapons from Libya ending up in the hands of al Qaeda. NATO was given an initial 90 days, from March 31, which would have run out on June 27. Meanwhile, Libyan officials claimed that NATO air raids have already killed 700 civilians. However, the extension of the mission was aimed at sending a message to Libyans who have for the past three months been trying to topple Col. Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades of autocratic rule.

37 Killed in Sanaa Clashes

At least 37 people have died in overnight fighting as clashes intensified in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, doctors and officials say. Violence escalated after a ceasefire broke down between security forces and fighters loyal to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, head of a tribal confederation. Yemen is facing increasing unrest in several areas after President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to step down after 33 years in power. The defence ministry accused tribesmen of seizing the headquarters of the ruling General People's Congress and other offices in Sanaa. However, sources close to Sheikh Ahmar said government forces had attacked his compound. On Tuesday, another 12 protesters were shot dead in the southern city of Taiz following a move by security forces to remove the protest camp from the city centre.

Northern, Southern Sudan Agree on Demilitarised Zone

Northern and Southern Sudan have agreed to set up a demilitarised zone along their border to be jointly patrolled in a deal mediated by the African Union, 10 days after northern troops seized the disputed border region of Abyei. Though details of the deal are still sketchy, analysts said the fact that both sides are talking was positive development. Observers have feared that the Abyei dispute could reignite the civil war between the north and South Sudan, which is due to become independent in July. South Sudan’s humanitarian affairs minister, recently, said he estimated 150,000 people had fled from Abyei state and border regions fearing further attacks.

Drug Cartels Seek Weapons in Central America

Mexican drug cartels are trying to buy high-powered weapons from military and police forces in Central America, according to El Salvador’s Defence Minister, Gen. David Munguia. Mexican officials have long said that most of the guns used by the cartels are smuggled in from the United States (U.S.). But Gen. Munguia warned Tuesday that the Mexican gangs that have expanded into Central America are also trying to buy weapons there. On Monday, Salvadoran military intelligence agents caught a junior officer who deserted the armed forces in December. He allegedly had three assault rifles and uniforms that he was trying to sell to a civilian.

Deadly Bacteria Infections Rise in Germany

With 16 people dead, German researchers are still trying to identify the source of a deadly E. coli outbreak after Spanish cucumbers were found not to have the lethal strain. About 470 patients, mostly in north Germany, have shown the most severe symptoms of the bacteria. German officials said their investigations indicate that people were probably infected by eating raw cucumbers, tomatoes or lettuce. The reprieve for the Spanish cucumber came too late for growers, who were forced to destroy tonnes of freshly harvested vegetables in southern Spain. Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has advised people not to eat raw vegetables. Meanwhile, the Spanish government has demanded compensation for affected Spanish growers. Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba threatened legal action.

Farmers, Police Clash in Sudan

About 400 farmers and Sudanese policemen clashed on Thursday in the country’s agricultural heartland of Gezira State. It all started when the farmers while demonstrating against an “unacceptable” government offer to buy their land between the Blue and White Nile, south of Khartoum. They were marching towards the office of the state governor when police reinforcements arrived and clashes broke out. Three of the demonstrators were arrested and one of them was taken to hospital after he was injured.

Kidnap: Phillip Garrido Gets 431 Years

Phillip Garrido has been sentenced to a total of 431 years in jail for his role in the kidnap and sex assault of Jaycee Lee Dugard in California. The 60-year-old's wife Nancy also got life sentence, with a minimum of 36 years. The couple kidnapped Jaycee in 1991 when she was just 11-years old outside her home in South Lake Tahoe, California, and kept her captive for 18 years. Garrido, already a paroled sex offender, fathered two children with Jaycee, and pleaded guilty when she was freed in August 2009. When he kidnapped Jaycee it was only three years after he was released from prison, where he served only 11 years of a 50-year sentence for a rape.

Taliban Attack Kills 34 in Pakistan

Hundreds of heavily armed Taliban besieged a Pakistani checkpoint on the Afghan border, killing 28 police and six civilians. At least 500 militants took part in the attack which began before dawn on Wednesday and continued throughout Thursday. Police said there were reports of up to 45 militants killed in the clashes. Fighting was concentrated around the Shaltalu police checkpoint, surrounded by mountains and forest in the north-western district of Upper Dir. Taliban and other Al-Qaeda-linked militants have carved out strongholds on both sides of the porous Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Five Killed in Shootings in Arizona Town

At least five people have been reported killed in a series of shootings in Yuma in the US state of Arizona. City officials said the shootings were linked. Yuma is a desert town about 20 miles north of the Mexico border. One of the dead was lawyer Jerrold Shelley.

Over 200 Migrants after Boat Developed Fault

More than 200 migrants are missing in the Mediterranean Sea after a boat trying to reach Europe broke down. The Tunisian coast guard and army rescued 570 but up to 270 went missing in the stampede to get off the fishing vessel. An operation to rescue the would-be migrants began off the Tunisian Kerkennah islands on Wednesday. The mainly African migrants were on a boat bound for Italy from Libya. 193 survivors were transferred to the Shusha camp near the Libya-Tunisia border, it added. It said another 385 would be sent to the same camp yesterday morning.

Soldiers Continue Looting, Shooting in Burkina Faso

Soldiers in Burkina Faso continued looting and shooting for a second day at a major military barracks in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. The soldiers’ actions have provoked demonstrations with Bobo-Dioulasso residents torching cars and ransacking to protest the looting. The governor overseeing the city has instituted a dawn-to-dusk curfew. The government said it would take measures to restore the state’s authority. The incidents are the latest in a string of episodes of unrest in the impoverished West African nation. This comes a month after a mutiny that threatened President Blaise Compaore’s 24-year rule.

17 Die as Clashes Erupt in Mogadishu Market

Clashes pitting Somali government forces and their African Union allies against Islamist rebels for control of Mogadishu’s main market left at least 17 civilians dead. Many of the victims died when stray artillery fire hit a bus station. The al Shabaab had been digging in trenches inside the market, while government forces and their African Union (AU) backers had taken up positions around it. Somali government officials confirmed the fighting and claimed they were advancing onto new positions previously held by the militants.

15 Killed in Syria as Troops Renew Attack

Syrian government troops pounded a central town of Rastan with artillery and gunfire on Thursday, renewing attacks in a restive area. No fewer than 15 people died in the assault, bringing the total killed there to 72 since the onslaught began, activists said. What began as street demonstrations calling for reforms evolved into demands for President Bashar Assad’s ouster in the face of the violent crackdown. The Syrian government on Wednesday freed hundreds of political prisoners and the president set up a committee for national dialogue in an effort to end the 10-week uprising.

Pakistan Plans Offensives against Taliban

Pakistan will launch a military offensive in North Waziristan, according to reports on Monday. This comes days after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated a U.S. demand to tackle sanctuaries for al Qaeda and the Taliban on the Afghan border. The United States has long demanded that Pakistan attack the region to eliminate the Haqqani network, one of the deadliest Afghan militant factions fighting U.S. troops in Afghanistan.