Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 44

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Gunmen Slay Commissioner’s Mother, Reps Aspirant

Unknown gunmen, Wednesday, invaded the country home of the Rivers State Commissioner of Power, Augustine Wokocha and murdered his mother, Mrs. Lucy Wokocha. Mrs. Wokocha was murdered at her home in Okposi, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA when gunmen broke into her residence at about 2.30am. The gunmen did not steal any valuable. The River State Police Spokesperson, Rita Inoma-Abbey, confirmed the incident, adding that it was being investigated. In Imo state, gunmen, also on Wednesday, killed a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives aspirant, Nze Sonny Orji Ogbu. His assassination comes after the previous week’s assassination of the proprietor of a supermarket in Owerri, Imo State, Mrs. Rose Onyeagwa. Ogbu was assassinated when his entourage stopped to acknowledge cheers from his admirers. Nothing was taken from his vehicle.

Pirates Kill 4 in Bayelsa

Pirates operating along the Bayelsa waterways on Monday attacked a passenger boat killing four persons and injuring several others. The attack is the first since amnesty was granted to militants in the Niger Delta last year. The attack took place along Labyrinthine Yenagoa-Brass-Akassa waterway. Three of the dead were said to be passengers who were forced to jump into the river following the attack. They drowned in the process while one was killed for arguing with the attackers. It was gathered that the attackers operated unrestrained for almost an hour as the soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) which usually patrol the route have wound down activities in recent time. State Police Public Relations Officer, Eguavoen Emokpae, said the matter was under investigation.

13 Killed in Cross River Land Dispute

Authorities have recovered 13 burnt corpses after unrest linked to a land dispute in Cross River state, police spokesman, Etim Dickson, said Tuesday. Dozens of houses and churches were burnt down in the two villages during the fighting, he also said. Security agents have managed to restore calm to the feuding Nsadop and Boje communities, Dickson said. The land under dispute, located between the two communities, has been confiscated and an investigation was underway to determine the culprits, it said. The two communities have been engaged in a land dispute for the last 20 years. Three soldiers were among the 13 persons killed. Governor Liyel Imoke has declared a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the areas, while security forces have been able to restore calm. 10 local chiefs have been arrested in connection with the murders.

Saboteurs Attack Agip Pipeline in Bayelsa
…4000bpd Affected

A pipeline belonging Agip was attacked Thursday night in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta, shutting in 4,000 barrels a day of crude production, the company said on Friday. Agip confirmed an "act of sabotage occurred in a minor pipeline of the Osiama field in Bayelsa state, Nigeria." However it did not issue a warning that it may not be able to meet its contractual obligations because the affected levels of production are small.

Abducted Women Regain Freedom

An Indian teacher, Lakshmi Tombush, who works for an ExxonMobil school in Akwa Ibom state, has been released two weeks after she was seized by gunmen, who also shot dead her driver and a policeman escorting her. It was unclear if any ransom was paid but no arrests have been made. In a related development, the wife of a former military administrator of old Ogun and River states, Mrs. Comfort Ewang, late Thursday night regained freedom from her abductors after 22 days in captivity. The kidnappers had demanded for N100m ransom after collecting N25m from Ewang. Ewang had paid the N25m ransom, but the gunmen set the car in which the money was conveyed to their hideout ablaze, seized the driver and fled with the money. The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Walter Rugbere, confirmed both stories.

Amaechi Hails Police, Mark Lauds Amaechi over Peace in Rivers

Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has commended the efforts of the police and other security agencies in restoring peace in the state. Amaechi made the commendation at the headquarters of the state police command in Port Harcourt on Monday, while inaugurating some security equipment donated by the state government as part of activities marking the third anniversary of his administration. The governor said Nigerian policemen were well trained but the identified lack of investment in the force resulted in their inability to meet the rigours of modern policing. Amaechi called on the Federal Government to invest more in the police, through training and better remuneration. Similarly, Senate President, David Mark, lauded Amaechi for enhancing security in the State. Mark made the commendation while commissioning the Ring Road project at Okrika.

Militants Threaten to Kill Politicians in Rivers State

Ahead of 2011 general elections, the commanders of late Soboma George’s camp are threatening to eliminate politicians in Rivers state, who are causing confusion and tension in the polity. According to the general commandant of the Soboma George’s camp who refused to be mentioned on the grounds of security, the time has come for the survivors of George, the erstwhile militant leader to unleash terror and large scale mayhem in the state with politicians as possible targets for the attack. He explained that the group was no longer comfortable with the insistence of the authorities to try the killers of Soboma George a few months ago, even after they have admitted guilty to the offence.

Agbakoba Takes FG to Court over Alleged Neglect of S/East

For allegedly neglecting and discriminating against the South-East geopolitical zone over the years by successive governments, former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has instituted a Fundamental Rights Class Action against the Federal Government. In the suit he filed before the Federal High Court in Enugu, Agbakoba is claiming the sum of N1 trillion to be shared among the five states in the geopolitical zone, as compensation for the alleged discrimination and neglect. He is also urging the court for an order directing the government to establish the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and for ancillary matters, which shall be charged with the execution of the said master plan and the general development of the zone.

Kidnappers Abduct Senator’s Mother-in-Law

Ebonyi State Police Command, on Tuesday, said that Senator Julius Ucha’s 68-year-old mother-in-law, Mrs Maria Nwinya, had been abducted by unidentified gunmen. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Yahaya Ardo, who made the disclosure, stated that the gunmen, who invaded Mrs Nwinya’s home, penultimate Sunday night, had not established contact with anybody. The deputy commissioner of police, however, stated that the police were on top of the situation as they had made substantial progress in their investigations. Senator Ucha, who was the senator representing Ebonyi Central senatorial zone until recently, said that they were going to do everything possible to secure the release

Rivers Explains Slums’ Demolition

The Rivers State government’s scheme to pull down slums for modern buildings, including a hotel and theme park, could leave more than 200,000 people homeless, the Amnesty International warned on Thursday. The evictions, which began August last year, were carried out by armed security agents. But the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, confirmed that some commercial projects would be established, but added that the acquired spaces will be “mainly for housing.” Amnesty reiterated that 12 people were wounded last year when security forces fired at the demonstrators protesting the demolition. The government denied that any shooting took place.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Auto Crash Claims Politician, Wife, Children

A ghastly motor accident, penultimate Sunday along Ogwashi Ukwu-Kwale road in Delta State, has claimed the lives of a top politician, Victor Osiegbu, his wife and their four children. The victims were said to have died on their way to Ewulu after a burial ceremony. According to eye witnesses, Osiegbu's Gulf car veered into the opposite lane of a coming bus when the accident occurred unexpected happened.

Edo Dissolves LG Council

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has described the dissolution of the leadership of the 18 LG Councils in the state by Governor Adams Oshiomhole as unconstitutional and urged the people to resist it. The House of Assembly approved the request of the governor to dissolve the leadership of the councils whose tenure is supposed to expire on the 15th December, 2010, to complete their three years tenure, and the chairmen were immediately asked to hand over to the Heads of Service in their respective councils. Faulting the dissolution, the PDP’s Director of Publicity, Okharedia Ihimekpen, pointed out that the dissolution of the councils truncated the supposed three years tenure of the elected officers, adding that the action amounted to a coup which must be condemned.

Sapele Communities Mobilise against PPMC, NNPC over Oil Spill

Some communities in Sapele LGA of Delta State impacted by oil spillage in year 2000, have threatened to mobilize against the Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for delaying the reimbursement of expenses they incurred on remediation and re-vegetation of the  areas impacted by an oil spill. They called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to prevail on NNPC and PPMC to compensate people affected by the spill otherwise they would be forced to take unlikable action. Their spokesman, Mr. Vote Oghene, said that tension was already building up in the communities, calling on the leaders of the communities who have been preventing them from embarking on the protest to give way to enable them draw the attention of NNPC by force since the company does not respect peaceful dialogue.

Delta Gets New Laws

Delta state has formally severed itself from former Bendel state with the unveiling of the Delta State's new laws by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in Asaba on Monday. Uduaghan said it was necessary for the state to have its own laws after 19 years of its creation from the former Bendel State. The governor commended the state’s Ministry of Justice for making the public presentation of Delta State laws possible. The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor Otomiewo, said because the society is very dynamic, the laws regulating it should be reflective of contemporary times.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

13 Containers of Arms Impounded in Lagos

Security agents have intercepted 15 containers of dangerous weapons illegally imported into Nigeria. The shipment, which contained rocket launchers, mortar bombs, small light arms and ammunition, were impounded at the Apapa Port in Lagos. The containers had a Bill of Laden indicating that the contents were building materials, but a search by the State Security Service (SSS) officials revealed they were arms and ammunition. Assistant Director, Public Relations of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, confirmed the seizure, but did not mention any arrest. She said a thorough investigation had begun. Relevant agencies have been put on the alert following the discovery. The ship was loaded in Iran, the firm that operates the vessel said on Friday. It further emerged from Israeli officials that the weapons were heading for Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in Palestine.

Three Die in Ijebu-Ode Bank Robbery

Two suspected armed robbers and an unidentified woman were on Tuesday killed in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, as policemen foiled an attempted bank robbery and engaged a gang of bandits in a fierce gun battle. The incident occurred when the armed robbers, numbering about 30, stormed a branch of Zenith Bank Plc, shooting sporadically in the air. It was learnt that other banks located in the area hurriedly shut down while customers and residents scampered for safety. The timely intervention of a team of policemen prevented what could have resulted in a bloody incident. Two of the robbers were gunned down by the police, while the woman was allegedly killed by stray bullets.

Police Rescue Abducted Commissioner’s Mum, Grand-Daughter

Men of the Ondo State Police Command, penultimate Sunday, rescued the mother of the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Pege Esther Wewe, from the den of her abductors. She was rescued alongside her 12-year-old grand-daughter, Rachael Lawrence, at Sapele in Delta State, by the police. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Adeniran Aremu, disclosed that the Police had arrested two people in connection with the kidnap. Suspected kidnappers had stormed her hometown, recently in Sabomi, in Ese-Odo LGA of the state, and kidnapped the 81-year-old woman and her grand–daughter without any resistance. The kidnappers were also said to have contacted the commissioner and demanded N20 million as ransom.

Fake Soldier Nabbed with 20 Bags of Indian Hemp

A middle-aged man, Mr Samuel Okwubusu, who claimed to be a Corporal in the Nigerian Army, has been arrested by the men of the Ogun State police command, with 20 bags of Indian hemp. Okwubusu was arrested by the Anti-Crime Patrol team at Otakpele, near the Nigeria/Benin Republic border. A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that Okwubusu confessed that his friend contracted the conveyance of the goods to Lagos for sale.

27 Die as Doctors’ Strike Continues in LASUTH

At least 27 people were on Thursday confirmed dead at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, as patients on admission in the hospital staged a protest in front of the Government House, Alausa, Ikeja. Leader of the protesting patients, Mr. Adeoye Modechai, appealed to Governor Babatunde Fashola to sign the agreement he entered with the Medical Guild to enable them call off the ten-week-old strike. He said the nurses are refusing to attend to patients since there is no doctor to sign their prescriptions.

Customs Chief Rescued from Kidnappers Den in Ogun

The Ogun State police command has rescued a Chief Superintendent of Customs, Ekanem Wills John, from kidnappers who had already demanded a N200 million ransom. Ekanem, 45, was rescued by the police in a forest in Sagamu on Wednesday. Two suspects were arrested. The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Musa Daura, revealed that the customs officer was kidnapped, penultimate Saturday night in Lagos. The victim stated that he was subjected to torture while in captivity, adding that he was not given any food.

Grandfather, Grandmother Nabbed for Drug Trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, has apprehended a 60-year-old grandfather and a 47-year-old grandmother in connection with illicit drug trafficking. The suspects, Bello Saka Mobolaji, 60, who ingested 83 wraps of substances that tested positive to heroin weighing 1.120kg, was stopped from smuggling drugs into Detroit through a KLM flight, while Afolabi Kehinde Victoria, 47, swallowed 106 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.920kg on her way to London.

Aero Blames Air Mishap on Humidity

Following penultimate Sunday’s mishap in which 15 passengers aboard Aero airline flight from Port Harcourt were injured when the airline made an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, the management attributed the development to humidity and warm air mixing which metamorphosed into a cloud of smoke. Aero airline noted that the pilot of the plane detected a cloud of smoke in the cabin, stressing that the pilot was able to make an emergency landing when he discovered the incident. It affirmed that all the 84 passengers and crew on aboard the flight were safely evacuated. Those who were injured got their injuries during a stampede as passengers feared that the plane would explode.

3,000 Displaced as Flood Ravages Badagry

A seven year-old girl was killed, while over 3,000 others have been displaced by the flood that submerged in Badagry LGA of Lagos State. The member representing Badagry in the House of Representatives, Samuel Sejoro, raised alarm over neglect of his constituency. The flood also destroyed properties worth millions of naira. Sejoro noted that it was the first time residents of the affected communities would be experiencing that magnitude of flood after continuous downpour for about three weeks. Sejoro called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Government to urgently, provide relief materials for the victims and clean up the areas to reduce the possibility of an epidemic.

Accident Claims 3 in Lagos

Over three persons lost their lives while others sustained severe injuries in two separate road accidents in Lagos. The deceased, who were traders at the popular Aswani Textile Market, met their untimely death when a golf car ran over them as they tried to dash across the express road. In another incident at the Alausa area of the state’s capital, Ikeja, an unidentified car ran over a group of pedestrians waiting to board a bus at the Old Toll Gate along Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, killing one person on the spot while others who suffered severe injuries were rushed to the nearby hospital. Lagos State Police Spokesman, Frank Mba, while confirming the story, said the driver of the Golf car, Onyeka Obi, had been tested for drunkenness and would be charged for manslaughter accordingly.

5 Hotel Workers Sue Police over Detention

Five employees of Hadmof Inn, Yaba, Lagos, have sued the Nigeria Police, asking for an order to enforce their fundamental human rights and to be set free from illegal detention after their arrest without prosecution for 10 days. They are also asking for N25 million damages against the police for the infringement on their fundamental human rights. They alleged that they were detained on the orders of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after a female customer who lodged at the hotel complained that her bag was torn and her belongings worth N2.5 million stolen that night in the hotel room. They claimed that they called in the police but she did not allow the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to conduct any serious investigation as she claimed to be an officer of the State Security Service (SSS).

Police Invade Palace, Shoot One
…Oba Vows to Fight Tormentors

The palace of the embattled traditional ruler of Shomolu\Bariga communities in Lagos state, Oba Gbolahan Akanbi Timson, was during the week, invaded by policemen, who allegedly wrecked havoc in the place, shooting and beating everybody because they could not find the Oba. Eyewitness account said the heavily armed policemen that invaded the palace to unleash terror were led by a Chief Superintendent of Police suspected to be the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of the area.  Residents of the area, including guests were victims to the invasion. But the traditional ruler said he knew the source of the invasion, said it was time he fought back his tormentors.

GENERAL

140 Illegal Arms Recovered in Kogi

The Kogi State Police Command says it has recovered about 140 illegal arms in the state within the past two months. Spokesman of the command, Abubakar Nasir Mohammed, expressed concerns over what he described as proliferation of arms in the state, saying there were facts to link the arms and politicians. Most of the culprits have not been arrested, but we have arrested their agents, who prefer death to disclosing their sponsors, according to Mohammed. He added that the 47 politicians recently paraded for illegal possession of arms in the state had been charged to court.

Suspected Boko Haram Members Attack Police Station in Yobe

Six armed men suspected to be Boko Haram members, penultimate Sunday, attacked the Gulani police station in Yobe, injuring at least three policemen. In the exchange of gunfire with the suspects, the police killed one of them, while the remaining five fled. The state’s police commissioner, Mamman Sule, confirmed the incident. He added that police officers were able to protect the station by killing one of the suspects. He said the motive of the suspects had been to set the police station ablaze but they were repelled.

Ex-Naval Chief Advises Successor on Piracy, Oil Bunkering

Former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim, has urged his successor to tackle piracy and illegal bunkering with the seriousness they deserve, saying the bunkerers would attempt to undermine his efforts. He warned his successor not to underrate the antics of bunkerers and pirates as they would be among the first set of people to besiege his office pretending to be friends. Vice Admiral Ibrahim gave the warning at a ceremony to pull him out of the Navy at a parade held at the weekend in Lagos. He also called on the Federal Government to add more ships to the naval fleet to enable it meet its constitutional responsibilities.

4 Wanted over Abuja Bomb Blasts

The State Security Service (SSS) has placed four people on the wanted list over the October 1 bomb blasts which rocked Abuja and led to the death of at least 12 people. Sources said that the SSS were on the trail of the suspects. It was gathered that the SSS, which took seven of the suspects to court, penultimate Thursday, had decided to embark on what has been tagged secret trial by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), because of the need to get all suspects into the net. Although the SSS is keeping the identities of the suspects a secret; it was gathered that the four wanted suspects were in Port Harcourt for the wiring of the cars used in the bombing.

Senate Passes Amended Constitution

Senate Wednesday 27 October 2010 passed an alteration to the 1999 amended constitution that empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold the 2011 general election in April 2011 instead of January as earlier stipulated by the first amendment. INEC had requested for a shift of the time for election to enable the commission order for Direct Data Capturing Machines, and to engage on a fresh Voter registration exercise. INEC specifically had requested that the time lines be amended such that elections will take place in April instead of January 2011 as earlier announced pursuant to the constitution.

Police Corporal gets Death Sentence for Armed Robbery, Murder

A policeman, Corporal Gad Barminals, was on Friday, sentenced to death by an Abuja High Court, following his involvement in an armed robbery attack that resulted in the death of a taxi driver, Paul Ojo. Barminals was said to have arrested the deceased driver at gunpoint, took him to a secluded spot within the Airport road in Abuja, pumped loads of bullets into his chest and made away with his car in May 2005. Luck ran out on Barminals when he went to sell the vehicle in Kaduna as he was arrested by undercover policemen. Corporal Barminals, who had in a statement, admitted robbing and killing the deceased, insisted that his travail was orchestrated by high ranking police officers that he said had vowed to eliminate him, and he denied writing the incriminating statement that was used against him.

Air Force, Navy Redeploy Senior Officers

Massive postings and appointments of senior officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were on Monday approved by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar. The postings, which affected 12 Air Vice Marshals, 36 Air Commodores and 27 Group Captains, take immediate effect, according to a statement signed the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) of the Air Force, Yusuf Anas. The leadership of the Nigerian Navy also announced postings of senior officers to head its various commands, ships and establishments. A statement signed by the new Director of information, Captain Kabir Aliyu, reveals that the appointments affects eight Rear Admirals, 38 Commodores and 18 Captains. Aliyu said the changes were meant to reposition the Navy for greater performance in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.

IGP Wants Civil Defence Scrapped

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, has demanded for the scrapping of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on the ground that its functions were overlapping with that of the police. Ringim was said to have complained that members of the corps had been allowed to bear arms when they were not sufficiently trained for it, stressing the need for something to be done before an ugly situation developed. A statement later issued from the Office of Vice-President Namadi Sambo noted that Ringim also lamented that some parts of the 2007 Act setting up the NSCDC violated the provisions of the 1999 Constitution which established the Nigeria Police. The statement revealed that Sambo set up a committee to investigate the claims of overlapping functions.

Police Withdraws Men from Banks without APC

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, has ordered the withdrawal of policemen from banks that have failed to acquire the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). Two previous Imps, Mike Okiro and Ogoni Novo had in separate meetings with banks and financial institutions, requested that all banks wishing to move cash across their branches to purchase armoured/bullet proof bullion vans but the deadline given has since expired and only a few have complied. Following the recent attack of a cash bullion van belonging to a commercial bank by a gang of armed robbers, in Awka, Anambra State, in which six policemen were feared killed, the police boss decided to order the recall of all policemen attached to cash transfer vans nationwide.

6 Killed in Jos

At least six persons were killed on Thursday in Rawhiku village near Jos, Plateau State capital, by suspected Fulani herdsmen. This came as two others were stabbed by some unidentified hoodlums, while returning from the on-going Trade Fair in Jos. A suspect of the attack on the village in Jos was caught by the villagers and taken to the Rukuba Road Police Station in the state capital from where he was transferred to the State Police Headquarters for further investigation.

CNN Boss Donates $1bn for Polio Eradication

Chairman, United Nations Foundation and CEO of CNN, Ted Turner, has committed a billion dollars in the fight against polio and other child killer diseases globally. He also said Nigeria has reduced cases of polio by 98 percent with only 8 cases confirmed in 2010.  Turner made the disclosure last weekend, during a courtesy call to the Sultan of Sokoto in Sokoto. He told the Sultan that he was in Nigeria to deliver a message to community leaders that Nigeria must keep up the fight against child killer diseases by continuing to leverage the power of modern vaccines. The Sultan, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, maintained that tremendous progress has been made   in the reduction of polio and other child killer diseases in the North.

Advisory List: AGF Cautions EFCC

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), warned the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, to “desist from making statements capable of heating up the polity”. At least 40 prominent politicians are on the advisory list containing over 100 persons with high profile cases whom the anti-graft body advised should be barred from seeking election into public offices. The AGF said the compilation on those who should not be allowed to participate in the political process could easily be misinterpreted to mean that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan had plans to exclude some people from the political process.

US Court Jails Nigerian for Credit Card Scam

A United States Court has sentenced a Nigerian, Ademola Adegoke, to eight and a half years imprisonment for using stolen credit card numbers to steal more than $400,000 from the US citizens. The convict, who pleaded guilty, to wire fraud and aggravated theft on July 30, 2010, has, however, agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $696,026. Adegoke, resident in Ghana, used local Internet cafes in Accra to access e-mail accounts and voice over IP services, which made it appear that he was calling from the United States even though he was physically in Ghana.

Christian Leaders Write Jonathan on Kidnapping

Worried by the recent upsurge in the spate of crises and criminalities in several parts of the country, especially the cases of kidnapping, leaders from many Christian denominations have written a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, appealing to him to find a way of arresting the ugly trend. The letter was signed by over 20, 000 pastor. Though the content of the letter, meant to be taken to the president through Governor Alao-Akala, was not made public, the Christian leaders were said to have expressed their concerns over the pervading criminalities across the country.

Nigeria Slides on Global Corruption Index

Nigeria emerged 134th out of the 178 countries assessed by Transparency International (TI) in the global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released on Tuesday in Germany, scoring 2.4 out of a possible 10 points in terms of public opinion on corruption. Nigeria slid four places from last year’s position, which she was ranked 130th out of 180 surveyed countries and 121st out of the 180 nations in 2008. However, Ghana was ranked 62nd among the 178 nations, scoring 4.1, while no African nation was ranked among the top 20 nations in the detailed survey. Nigeria was ranked 28th among the 47 nations surveyed in Africa. TI also noted that with governments committing huge sums to tackle the world’s most pressing problems, corruption remained an obstacle to achieving the much-needed progress.

DPR Reads Riot Act to Marketers over Diversion of Products

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Thursday warned marketers diverting petroleum products to undesignated outlets to desist from such unwholesome practices, failing which they will face the wrath of the law. Zonal Operations Controller, Mr. Anthony Nwaokoagbara, who handed down the threat at the 2010 Annual Marketers Meeting in Abuja pointed out that the act of diversion contravened the section 1 and 2 of the Petroleum Production and Distribution Act.

INTERNATIONAL

Cholera Outbreak Stabilising in Haiti

Health officials have said there are signs that the cholera outbreak in central Haiti may be stabilising. Although the death toll moved past 400 with more than 3,000 people infected, fewer cases were reported. Officials say the disease is a serious threat to the 1.3 million survivors of January's earthquake who are living in tented camps surrounding the city. The poor sanitary conditions make them vulnerable to cholera, which is caused by bacteria transmitted through contaminated water or food. But in a twist at the weekend, Haitians protested against the UN peacekeepers, accusing them of bringing the cholera. The peacekeepers arrived there a few days after the outbreak of the cholera.

15 Shot Dead at Mexican Carwash

Fifteen people were killed Wednesday at a carwash in the western Mexican state of Nayarit, the state attorney general's office disclosed. The attack happened at a business called the Gamboa carwash in the capital, Tepic, and is presumed to be the work of a drug cartel. A man had been killed the night before in the same area, police said. Initial reports said witnesses heard the gunfire on Wednesday morning, only two blocks away from the offices of the federal police, the federal police responded to the scene to find 15 people dead, including clients and employees of the carwash. Investigators found hundreds of shell casings from assault rifles. The mass slaying resulted in the closure of nearby businesses and schools.

72 Million Children to be Immunised against Polio

Fifteen countries across Africa launched a synchronised mass immunization campaign against Polio to reach 72 million children last week. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said a total of some 290,000 vaccinators have been mobilised for the exercise in areas considered as “highest risk” of polio transmission. The Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said that the target population for Nigeria in 17 northern states, excluding Sokoto and Kebbi, is twenty-nine million two hundred and three thousand three hundred and eighty-three children (29,203,383) aged zero to five years. Thirty-five million doses of bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV) have been procured for the four-day exercise.

Tsunami Kills 113, as Volcano Erupts in Indonesia

No fewer than 113 people were killed and scores of others left missing as a powerful earthquake triggered a 10-foot tsunami that pounded remote island villages in western Indonesia on Tuesday. The Mount Merapi volcano also erupted forcing thousands of nearby residents to flee, leaving 33 people dead. Strong winds and rough seas have hampered rescue efforts. But reports of the damage and casualties from the 7.7-magnitude temblor were already steadily rising. The Head of the Health Ministry's crisis centre, one Mujiharto, said 113 bodies have been recovered so far. The number of missing was between 150 and 500.

13 Killed in Mexican Rehab Centre Attack

At least 13 people were killed on Tuesday when armed men burst into a drug rehabilitation centre in the Mexican border city of Tijuana. 14 were earlier killed, penultimate Friday when gunmen stormed a birthday party in another border city, Ciudad Juarez. Meanwhile, Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, has called on the US to do more to reduce the demand for drugs that is fuelling violence in Mexico. He said that more should also be done to stem the flow of illegal weapons from the US. More than 28,000 people have died in drug violence in Mexico since 2006. Calderon and other regional leaders have also urged Californian voters to reject moves to legalise marijuana in their state. Californians will vote on a measure known as Proposition 19, which seeks to legalise recreational marijuana use on 2 November.

6 Killed in Pakistan Shrine Blast

Six people were killed on Monday when a bomb exploded at one of Pakistan's largest Sufi shrines, authorities said. Fifteen others were wounded. The bomb exploded at the Baba Farid shrine in Pakpattan shortly after dawn prayers. About 300 worshipers were at the shrine when the blast took place, said Aslam Hayat, the top government official in Pakpattan. Two boys posing as milkmen placed the bomb at one of the main gates of the shrine, Hayat said. They arrived at the shrine with a milk drum attached to their motorcycle and parked at the gate, Hayat said. The bomb detonated 10 minutes later, he said. Hayat said explosives were likely inside the metal milk drum.

Body Parts of Victims Found after Rock Slides in Taiwan

Crews in Taiwan have found body parts as the search unfolds for victims of rock slides caused by Typhoon Megi. Four sets of body parts have been found, with DNA testing to be done. Nineteen tourists from southern China, a Chinese tour group leader and a Taiwanese bus driver went missing penultimate Thursday along the Suhua Highway, after the typhoon. Sections of the scenic highway, which is perched along a cliff on the island's eastern coast, gave way. Megi killed at least 13 people and injured nearly 100 others in Taiwan recently. Typhoon Megi made landfall in China's southeastern province of Fujian penultimate Saturday, affecting nearly 650,000 people and destroying 500 houses. About 270,000 people had evacuated. No deaths or significant injuries were reported.

Woman Charged in Deaths of Infants

A Pennsylvania woman, Michele Kalina, was charged Monday with criminal homicide after forensic tests showed her to be the mother of four infants whose remains were found in her home in July, according to District Attorney, John Adams. Authorities also linked her to a fifth set of infant remains found in a nearby landfill. Kalina's teenage daughter contacted authorities on July 29, unsure of what she had discovered in the living room closet. Later that day, officers recovered the suspected remains of three infants from Kalina's apartment. Adams said both the boyfriend and Kalina's husband denied knowledge of any pregnancies. According to the statement from Adams' office, the pathology report indicated four of the deaths were, "consistent with asphyxia, poisoning, or neglect."

7 Killed in Stampede at Soccer Game

A stampede that killed at least seven soccer fans in the Kenyan capital started after a group without tickets tried to storm through a stadium entrance, a game official said. The incident occurred penultimate Saturday at a Nairobi stadium where longtime rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia were playing. League officials said during the stampede, a spectator rushed into the field in the first half to alert game officials because “people are being crushed to death". The match resumed after a temporary interruption. Gor Mahia defeated the Leopards, 1-0.

Pirates Hijack Ship Near Kenya

Somali pirates hijacked a gas vessel with a crew of 17 off the coast of Kenya; the European Union Naval Force Somalia reported penultimate Sunday. The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel, issued a distress call Saturday night. The EU unit Sunday said a Turkish helicopter of the Combined Maritime Forces spotted the vessel and observed armed pirates on board. Another ship that was hijacked on October 9, the fishing vessel Golden Wave, also was seen in the vicinity. The crew includes a German captain, two Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos. Somali pirates currently hold 19 vessels with 428 hostages, according to the EU unit's figures.

Ethnic Riots Hit Guinea Towns

Members of the Malinke ethnic group have started a riot in four towns in Guinea, killing one man and leaving Peul-owned stores in ruins as ethnic violence spread amid stalled presidential elections. Guinea has never freely elected a leader since independence in 1958. Electoral chief, Siaka Toumani Sangare, a Malian, did not say when a new date would be announced. The appointment of a foreigner to the key post was aimed at ending ethnic discord in the electoral commission. Presidential candidate, Cellou Dalein Diallo, is a Peul, which despite being the country's largest ethnic group, has never had one of its own in power. His rival, Alpha Conde, is a Malinke, a group heavily represented in the army and in the junta blamed for a September 2009 massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Conakry.

Court Sentences Tariq Aziz to Death by Hanging

Former aid to Saddam Hussein, Tariq Aziz who was the only Christian in Saddam's mainly Sunni inner circle, was sentenced to death by hanging on Tuesday for persecuting Shiites just over three months after the Americans transferred him to Iraqi government custody. Aziz has 30 days to launch an appeal. Aziz’s Jordan-based lawyer, Badee Izzat Aref, accused the government of orchestrating the verdict to divert attention from recent revelations about prison abuse by Iraqi security forces contained in U.S. military documents released by the whistleblower site, WikiLeaks. Aziz became internationally known as the dictator's defender and a fierce American critic first as foreign minister after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and later as a deputy prime minister.

Body of Slain 15-Year-Old Found In Woods

The body of a 15-year-old girl, Rebecca Aylward, was found in woodland on Sunday morning. Two 15-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder after her body was found, penultimate Sunday. Rebecca was reported missing when she failed to return home on Saturday evening after earlier visiting friends in Sarn. South Wales Police have issued an appeal for information.