Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 25

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Ex-Militant Killed in Bayelsa

Panic has gripped ex-militant leaders in Bayelsa State over the assassination of one of them, Ebi Albert from Odioma in Brass LGA. Albert was with his driver and Policeman driving along Ebis Road at Biogbolo when he was shot and killed with his driver. The Policeman sustained bullet injuries and is receiving treatment. The Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Musa, confirmed the incident, adding that the motive for the killing is still unknown and no arrests had been made. Musa further stated that investigation into the killing and why he was travelling in company of a policeman had begun. Recently, “General” Pastor Reuben had raised the alarm over the security challenges being faced by the ex-militant leaders, considering the way some of them were murdered by gunmen.

Cross River Donates Gunboat to Navy

Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has promised the state government’s support for the Nigerian Navy to ensure the water ways and the country’s borders are safe. Imoke made this promise, penultimate Friday, during the inauguration of a gunboat donated by the state to the Nigerian Navy at the NNS Victory Naval Base, Calabar. Receiving the gunboat, the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, said this was the first of its kind by any state government and assured that it would be put to judicious use by the Navy and for the betterment of the state.

Nursing Mother, 3 Kids Set Ablaze in Ebonyi

A nursing mother and her three children in Ebonyi state were, last weekend, set ablaze in residence while they were asleep. The incident, which the deceased’s co-wife is said to be a suspect, also consumed all domestic animals within the compound.  But for the timely intervention of security personnel, the unfortunate development nearly culminated in a communal feud between Izzi and Ezza people, as the victim was said to be from a neighbouring Ezza but married as second wife to an Achara-Unuhu man of Izzi clan. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr John Eluu, confirmed the incident and said the command would ensure that whoever that is responsible for the incident is made to face the law.

Abductors of Corps Members Slash Ransom to N10m

Kidnappers of five members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed in Rivers State, have reduced their initial ransom demand of N100m to N10m, the state Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Abba, disclosed.  Abba, however, said the police command was trying its best to rescue the corps members without giving in to the ransom being demanded by the kidnappers. He also said the police now know the perpetrators of the act but declined to name them for “security reasons”. According to him, the Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga, had been in the state since Monday in an effort to secure the freedom of the corps members.

Police Foil Attack on Police Station

The River State Police Command on Wednesday foiled an attack on officers in front of the Diobu Police Station in Port Harcourt. Police Public Relations Officer, Ben Ugwuegbulam, who confirmed the incident, said no life was lost in the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday as a gang of 4 hoodlums attacked policemen conducting stop-and-search. According to him, a gun battle ensued and the police repelled them. He added that they escaped with some them having gun injury. Meanwhile, the State Police Commissioner, Suleiman Abba,  displayed  seven AK 47 riffles, 500 live ammunition and 50 five magazines recovered from a gang of three, which  specialises in killing policemen. Abba, who said the gang was smashed at their hideout in Aluu, added that the riffles recovered from them belonged to some of the policemen they murdered.

Three Feared Killed in Ogoni

Three persons were feared killed over the controversy trailing the citing of military cantonment in Ogoniland, Rivers State. The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People had, in a statement by its Information Officer, Mr. Bari-ara Kpalap, on Monday, alleged that two of the deceased were killed by some riot policemen sent to arrest some of those who were against the citing of the military base in the area, while a third person, Job Nkpai, who was said to have invited the police, was killed by a mob. Kpalap described the killing of the youths as unprovoked. He called on the police to ensure that the security operatives behind the murder of the two Ogoni sons were brought to book.

Suspected Sabotage Cuts Oil Export

Nigeria’s crude oil export has suffered a major setback as Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has declared force majeure on about 300,000 barrels per day Bonny Light loadings for June and July 2011. The declaration of force majeure followed what it called “production cutbacks” caused by leaks and fires on the company’s Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP). Confirming the latest development, Corporate Media Relations Manager of Shell, Mr Tony Okonedo, attributed the force majeure to last week’s fire on the company’s TNP.

Police Rescue Abducted Parents of Ex-Commissioner

The parents of former Energy Commissioner in Bayelsa state, Maxwell Oko, regained freedom after about 10 days in captivity. Erasmus Oko, 79, and his wife, Idemokumo, were abducted on June 2 at their home in Otuasega, as they were settling down for dinner. The kidnappers drove the couple to Okarki-Engenni in the neighbouring Rivers State in an unmarked car which was later abandoned and set ablaze by their captors. They were rescued on Sunday night in Soku, Rivers State without ransom, according to Maxwell. Police Public Relations Officer, Eguavoen Emokpae, also confirmed their release.

155 Soldiers Return from Peace-Keeping in Sudan

The first batch of 800 Nigerian soldiers from the 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Imo State, who were on a peace-keeping mission in Sudan, have returned. Welcoming the soldiers at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General A.I.G Danpome, expressed delight that their trip was successful, and added that there was no negative report against them. Danpome said the rest of the soldiers would come back in batches at a later date. The commander thanked God that there was no loss of life and advised the returning soldiers to quickly and properly adjust to their new environment, pointing out that some changes had taken place in their absence.

Enugu Police Foil Kidnap Attempt

The police in Enugu state, Monday, foiled an attempt by a three-man gang of kidnappers to abduct some school children. The gang had laid ambush around the school gate, waiting for the students to close for the day before they swoop on their target. But luck was said to have ran against them when a police patrol vehicle swooped on them. In a gun duel that ensued, the police shot one of them and arrested two others. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amarizu, confirmed the incident.

Police Rescue 7 Children from Suspected Traffickers

The Police in Anambra State, Monday, rescued seven children from the hands of suspected child traffickers and arrested two suspects. According to an eyewitness, the two suspects, a man and a woman came to the hotel with the seven children dressed in school uniform and attempted to check. But trouble started, when the suspects insisted that they should be checked into the hotel without filling in their particulars. One of the hotel staffers felt suspicious and alerted the Police. It was gathered that the street vigilance group, which was nearby on sighting the man fleeing from the approaching police patrol vehicle, reportedly apprehended and took him back to the Police. His female accomplice was apprehended at the lobby of the hotel while the seven children where rescued and taken to the Police station.

Police Arrest Kidnap Suspects, Drug Peddlers

The Aba Area Command, in its bid to rid the state of crime, swooped on criminals’ hideouts in Aba and arrested three suspected kidnappers and 54 drug peddlers. The hoodlums were arrested at 3 different locations in the city. Parading the suspects, the Aba area commander, Mr. Rabiu Dayi said his men arrested them based a tip-off. Some hard drugs including cocaine and heroine were also seized. Dayi said the raids became necessary as information had it that the hoodlums after taking the illicit drugs usually terrorized innocent residents and visitors to the city.

NAPTIP Probes Clinic over Child Trafficking

The National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) has begun hunt for operators of an illegal clinic where dozens of pregnant teenagers were reportedly found recently in Aba, Abia State. A spokesman for NAPTIP, Arinze Orakwe, said the operators of the clinic had allegedly lured the 32 teens to provide babies for trafficking rings in Aba. The girls, who are 15 to 18 years old, and the Director of the Cross Foundation, also known as the Heda Clinic, were arrested last month. The anti-trafficking agency, however, considers only the Director, Hyacinth Orikara, a suspect. Two girls have returned home after giving birth and the rest of the girls at the agency’s shelter in the nearby Enugu are collaborating with investigators.

Man Beheads Uncle in Imo after Disagreement

A man in Imo State, penultimate Thursday, beheaded his uncle after a heated argument and inflicted machete cuts on his father. Sympathizers at the scene quickly rushed his father to the hospital for medical attention. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Linus Nwaiwu, confirmed the incident but gave no further details.

Police Arrest MASSOB Members for Flying Flag

Ten members of the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were on Wednesday, arrested by the police in Anambra State. The 10 MASSOB members were arrested at a checkpoint at Abagana and were taken to Abagana Police Station where they made statements. It was gathered that the MASSOB members were on their way to Okwe in Imo State for an executive meeting where they were supposed to meet with Chief Uwazurike, before they encountered the police. A source said the MASSOB members hoisted their flag on the bus, and when they were confronted by the Police, they could not give satisfactory reason why they were flying the flag.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Kerosene Explosion Kills Man and Child

Two persons, a father and his daughter, were last weekend killed by kerosene explosion in Benin City, while a third victim is receiving treatment for severe burns. The victims were identified as Saturday Igbani and his children. It was gathered that the incident occurred at about 3am when the late Saturday Igbani wanted to pour kerosene into an already lighted kerosene lantern in their home. National Coordinator of the Save Accident Victims of Nigeria (SAVAN), Dr. Eddy Ehikhamenor blamed the incidence of kerosene explosions in the country on the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Court Nullifies Election of Delta Speaker after 4 Years

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday nullified the 2007 election of the new Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, over wrongful substitution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a suit filed by Mr. Boniface Isichei. Presiding Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba ruled held that the Lower Court which had originally ruled in favour of Isichei was right considering the overwhelming evidence before it. Isichei’s tortuous journey to the court started in 2007 shortly after the PDP primary for Aniocha North Constituency in 2007 which he won but curiously his name was substituted with that of Ochei. Ochei was, last week, unanimously elected as the speaker of the fifth session of the Delta State House of Assembly.

SSS, Police Arrest 48 Kidnappers in Edo

The Edo State Command of the State Security Service (SSS), on Tuesday, announced that it has arrested 20 suspected kidnappers, rescued 12 victims including the father-in-law of the state deputy governor, who was kidnapped from his residence. It also recovered a total sum of N3.8 million.  The state Director of the SSS, Bello Tukur Bakori, further disclosed the recovery of a cache of arms from the kidnappers including 69 pump action guns, one single barrel gun and two double barrel guns. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. David Omojola, announced that the police arrested the 28 suspects for various crimes and recovered assorted arms and ammunition. He said the police recovered the sum of N3.3 million from four members of a five-man armed robbery gang. Omojola also disclosed that the command had shot and killed one suspected kidnapper.

NIS Arrests Suspected Human Trafficker in Edo

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Wednesday, paraded a suspected human trafficker and her six victims, ages 18 to 25, in Benin City, Edo State. The Edo State Comptroller of NIS, David Akwo, said the suspected trafficker, Queen Ogbomo, came to the office to acquire international passports for the girls with a view to trafficking them to Europe for prostitution. The 35-year-old Ogbomo said she was based in Spain and that her intention was to take the girls to Greece. She also disclosed that her brother whom she referred as Osas Aikaro, who is also based in Spain, was the financier of the project. Akwo said the suspect and the victims would be taken to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Osun Residents Lament Robbery Attacks

Residents of Alapata area of Ofatedo and Iba town in Osun State have appealed to the police to intensify surveillance in the communities to check the menace of robbers that stormed the area penultimate Sunday and Monday and broke into houses. According to statements from the robbers who unleashed terrors on residents for several hours were not confronted by the police. The Divisional Police Officer, Ikirun, Michael Dahunsi, said his division had transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, and that some arrests had been made.

Ekiti Governor Decries Child Rape

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Monday said his administration would ensure that anybody found culpable of child rape in the state was punished according to the provisions of the law. Fayemi said this after officials of the United Nations Children’s Fund signed programme implementation agreement with the State Government. The governor said everything would be done to stop the crime, saying his administration had zero tolerance for any type of crime. The Assistant Country Representative of UNICEF, Mrs. Sara Nyanti, lauded the governor for the implementation of the Child Right Law in the state.

Road Accident Accidents Claim 37 in Five Months

Thirty-five people lost their lives in road accidents on the Ijebu-Ode-Ore-Benin Expressway in the last five months. The Commander of Ijebu-Ode Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Yakubu Anto, said the commission during the period under reference, recorded 65 road accident in which 517 persons were involved. The unit commander said apart from those who lost their lives in the crashes, 118 persons also sustained various degrees of injuries. According to him, investigation by the commission showed that the crashes were caused by excessive speeding and tyre burst. The unit commander urged motorists to exercise caution while driving on the highways and to avoid buying expired tyres.

10 Killed in Ondo Accident

Ten persons were feared killed on Thursday in an auto crash in Okitipupa, Ondo State. The accident occurred when a truck with a loading crane ran into three parked buses. Police sources said that many persons had lost their lives at that spot prompting the local government to provide an alternative route for heavy duty trucks. The driver of the ill-fated lorry, who fled the scene to avoid being lynched by an irate mob, was said to have lost control of the vehicle due to a brake failure and in an attempt to bring the situation under control ran over the vehicles.

Gunmen Abduct PDP Stalwart’s Mother

Madam Mariam Oke, 82-year-old mother of National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olusola Oke, was on Monday abducted from her home in Ondo State by a group of five unidentified gunmen. The Ondo State Police Spokesman, Adeniran Aremu, said the police had swung into action to secure her release and bring the abductors to book. The hoodlums came under the cover of darkness, shooting into the air to scare all before seizing the octogenarian.

Robbers Kill Trader in Ibadan

Robbers, on Monday, struck the popular Bodija Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, killing a trader and robbing another of unspecified sum of money and phones. Some people also sustained injuries during the operation. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Bodija Market, Julie Ajao, who confirmed the incident, however, said no life was lost, adding that people only sustained minor injuries. She said the robbers had to fire gunshots to escape, adding that it was the pellets from the cartridges that wounded some people. The police boss added that the policemen refused to fire gunshots at the robbers, to avoid death of innocent people in the market.

Police Declare Oyo NURTW Leaders Wanted

Oyo State Police Commissioner, Baba Adisa Bolanta, Monday, said the Police have launched a manhunt for the two factional leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) declared wanted, following the spate of violent clashes and killings associated with the union in Ibadan. Bolanta said policemen were combing every part of the state to find and arrest Alhaji Abdul Lateef Akinsola (Tokyo) and Mr. Mukaila Lamidi (Auxiliary) for their alleged roles in the mayhem. But the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Thursday, accused Bolanta of insincerity in his search for the factional leaders. Ajimobi said it was the height of hypocrisy for the police chief to declare them wanted when the culprits are daily seen walking on the streets of Ibadan.

10 Hectares of Indian Hemp Farm Discovered in Ondo

Six persons including two brothers have been arrested by the Police in Ondo state over the discovery of ten hectares of farmland where substances suspected to be Indian hemp worth about N2billion were planted. Led by the state Police Commissioner Alhaji Sani Mogaji, policemen invaded the farm and destroyed the substances discovered in a thick forest in Emure Ile in Owo Council area of the state. Speaking after handing over the farm to the NDLEA in the state, Mogaji said that the farm was discovered by his men after trailing the suspects for days.

Oyo Police Parades 12 Murder Suspects

Oyo State Police Command, on Thursday, paraded 12 murder suspects and eight members of a robbery gang. The Commissioner of Police, Baba Adisa Bolanta, while parading the suspects in Ibadan, disclosed that the suspects were arrested at Iseyin for allegedly killing one Ibrahim Alowonle The police boss, who did not disclose when the incident took place, said that corpse of the deceased was  found in a piggery, where he was killed. The suspected members of a robbery gang were arrested while trying to escape after burgling a Church. According to him, the burglars were sited by residents of the area when they were climbing down the fence of the Church.

GENERAL

FG Decries Rising Death Toll in Police

The number of deaths recorded by the Nigeria Police across the country is now source of worry to the FG, according to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim. , said in Uyo. Ringim made the revelation while addressing officers and men of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command during a familiarisation visit to the state. He also said the recklessness and corrupt approach of some members of the force was worrisome to President Jonathan and warned that any policeman found culpable in such illicit practices would face dismissal and prosecution. He cautioned the officers and men against firing at moving vehicles even if such drivers refused to stop.

Police Arrest 14 Suspects over Maiduguri Bombing

Police in Borno State have arrested 14 suspected Islamists linked to bomb attacks on a church and police stations that killed 14 people early this week in Maiduguri. Borno State police spokesman, Lawal Abdullahi confirmed the arrests late on Thursday and said investigations would determine the level of complicity of the suspects in the attacks while the police are on the lookout for other suspects. Several bomb explosions and gunshots rocked the city last week Tuesday in attacks suspected to have been staged by the Boko Haram, which has claimed responsibility for other attacks targeting soldiers and policemen, community and religious leaders as well as politicians.

NSCDC Dislodges Burglary Ring

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Zamfara State Command, has arrested six suspects, including four minors, who allegedly specialised in house break-ins and terrorising residents of Janyau area of Gusau. Parading the suspects at the weekend, the state Commandant, NSCDC, Ezekiel Chuks Obalim, said the command had received reports of frequent criminal activities in the area allegedly carried out by the arrested suspects. Obalim explained that the command had earlier arrested one of the suspects, a 14-year-old JSS three pupil (names withheld), for allegedly stealing a satellite receiver and who led NSCDC operatives to other members of his group.

SSS Discovers Bomb on Kaduna Rail

Operatives of State Security Service (SSS) in Kaduna discovered the bomb on the rail track behind a school in Barnawa area. Security operatives had, a day earlier, recovered a bomb that was found at the gate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) staff quarters in the Narayi area of the city. An anti-bomb analyst said if it had exploded it would have been the worst bomb attack ever in the state, considering the location, the targets, and also the magnitude of the explosive. The bomb was detonated by bomb experts.

Police Foil Blast in Kaduna

The police in Kaduna state successfully foiled a bomb attempt on Monday. Panic swept through Narayi area of Kaduna metropolis yesterday as a device later confirmed to be a bomb was discovered by the residents.  The Police Anti-Bomb Disposal Squad quickly moved in to the scene and recovered and detonated the bomb. The bomb was recovered at one of the gates leading to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) staff quarters in Narayi. This happened as suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed four people, penultimate Sunday at a liquor shop in Maiduguri. The suspects rode on a motorcycle with a Kalashnikov rifle hid under their flowing gowns and opened fire on the victims. The state Police Commissioner, Mohammed Abubakar, confirmed the incident.

Air Force Acquires Fighter Jet

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, has disclosed that M17 fighter helicopters would soon be added to the Nigerian Air Force fleet. Umar made the disclosure as he inaugurated a block of one-storey 12 single officers’ quarters situated at Ekorinim near Calabar in Cross River State on Wednesday. Umar said upon assumption of office in September 2010, he found it necessary to reappraise the security landscape of the country for strategic national security and defence. According to him, he decided that NAF had to pay more attention to the volatile Niger Delta region which generates much of Nigeria’s wealth and is deserving of a more pronounced presence of the NAF.

Buhari, Others Want Decisive Action against Terrorism

The presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has condemned Thursday’s Abuja bomb blast and called for a decisive action against terrorism. Similarly, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum and the Patriotic Alliance of Nigeria have described the spate of bomb blasts across the country as an indictment of the nation’s security forces. Also, the President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, said the security agencies must buckle up because the spate of the bomb blasts indicate that they (Security agencies) have not lived up to expectations. A suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, Abuja, on Thursday, killing at least two persons.

Bomb Blast at Police Headquarters
…Boko Haram Warns of More Attacks

The Nigeria Police became the first victim of suicide bombing in Nigeria on Thursday as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hafiz Ringim, narrowly escaped the attack at Force Headquarters, Abuja. Boko Haram, Islamist sect, claimed responsibility for the blast, and vowed further attacks government offices in the North. The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Olusola Amore, said a car was following the convoy of the IGP when a traffic warden was asked to direct the vehicle to the car park. Amore said it was during a discussion between the occupants of the vehicle, and the traffic officer that the device exploded, claiming only the two suspects and the traffic officer. Boko Haram had, on Wednesday, threatened fiercer attacks in the country and said it would not enter into talks with the government.

Court Grant Bankole, Nafada Bail

Embattled former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and his deputy, Usman Nafada, who are standing trial before an Abuja High Court on allegations of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust, were Thursday, granted bail on stringent conditions, which they could not readily meet. They were granted bail in the sum of 50 million naira each, with two sureties each in like sum. The court ordered that the sureties are to be civil servants who must not be below the status of a Permanent Secretary and must be resident in Abuja. One of the lawyers representing Bankole and Nafada, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, pleaded with the court for variation of the bail conditions but the court refused.

Bandits Kill Policeman, Council Workers in Taraba

Bandits have killed a police inspector, Simon Alev and two officials of Yorro Local Council of Taraba State. They were killed during an attack on the escort team of a vehicle with the council workers’ salary. The council chairman, Mallam Salihu Gidado, confirmed the incident. Meanwhile, two persons have been caught with seven human skulls and a tongue by the police in the state. The State Police Commissioner, Mrs. Chutua Amajo Onu, said the suspects, identified as Amadu Ali and Aondowase Thomas, were arrested at different locations in the state following a tip off from residents.

NIS Tightens Security at Borders as Boko Haram Threatens Attacks

The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has said that the service has beefed up security at the border areas to ensure that the orgy of violence perpetrated by the religious sect, Boko Haram, was not extended to the Southern part of the country. The security beef-up was as a result of the recent threat by the group to reach other parts of the country. Similarly, security in Lagos state and other areas has been beefed up following the bombing at the Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, in Abuja on Thursday. The movement of persons, including personnel of the Nigeria Police to the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command, was restricted.

Explosion Kills Four Children in Borno

An explosion near a church killed four children in Borno state on Thursday, police said. The blast in the town of Damboa came just hours after a suspected suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the police headquarters in the capital Abuja. The children were reportedly playing in a compound near the church when the blast went off, killing the four and wounding another, Borno state police commissioner Jinjiri Abubakar, disclosed.

One Killed as Rainstorm Wreaks Havoc in Niger State

One person died while two others were injured as rainstorm wreaked havoc across Niger State last weekend. The victim died when the roof of her father’s house collapsed on her. Her two sisters, however, survived and had been admitted at the Minna General Hospital for treatment. Several houses had their roofs blown off while some other buildings collapsed in the area as a result of the heavy rain which was accompanied by rainstorm. No fewer than 10 electric poles were pulled down, leading to the disconnection of power supply in the area. Officials of the Niger State Disaster Management Committee, according to findings, were already being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the disaster, but it was learnt that immediate assistance was already being sent to the affected people.

Police Urge Nigerian to Volunteer Information

The police in Abuja said objects kept in places by unknown people could be ‘disguised explosives’, and asked the public to report the detection of such objects to them. A number of disguised explosives kept in public places have killed several people in recent days while the police haven’t got the clues of those behind the explosions. Commissioner of Police in Abuja Haruna John said that the public can help the police to detect and diffuse explosive devices hidden inside what appeared to be normal packages by being vigilant.

INTERNATIONAL

US Accuses Shiite Militia in Killing of 5 Soldiers

An attack that killed five American soldiers on June 6 in Iraq is likely the work of a Shiite militia trying to take credit for driving forces out of the country, the U.S. military said. The attack was followed by a purported claim of responsibility for the killings by one such group. In another incident, a suicide bomber killed one person at a bank in Islamabad, Pakistan on Monday, a police official said. The Taliban have staged several large scale attacks to avenge the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on May 2. But the Pakistan's Taliban denied responsibility for the recent twin bomb blasts that ripped through a crowded market in Peshawar, killing 39 people and injuring dozens. The Pakistani Taliban denied any role in the bombing and said they only aim their strikes at the government and military.

Somalis, Kenyans Jubilate over Killing of Al-Qaeda Mastermind

Kenyans and Somalis, last weekend, jubilated over the death of an al-Qaeda mastermind, Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, who planned East Africa’s worst terror attack in recent history and had eluded capture for 13 years. The attacks Mohammed masterminded in Tanzania and Kenya killed 224 people, with most of them being Kenyans. Somalia’s President, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, has congratulated the troops who killed the militant. Mohammed’s death is the third major blow against al-Qaeda in the last six weeks. Navy Seals killed Osama bin Laden on May 2 at his home in Pakistan. And just a month later, Ilyas Kashmiri, an al-Qaeda leader sought in the 2008 Mumbai siege was reportedly killed in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistan.

Ethiopia jails 14 for AU Headquarters’ Bomb Plot

The Supreme Court in Ethiopia has jailed 14 people for terms ranging from nine years to life imprisonment for plotting bomb attacks. Judges, who handled the case, said the 14 accused had the backing of Eritrea for the plan to bomb key targets in Addis Ababa last year, including Ethiopian government buildings as well as the AU’s base in the capital. Four of the defendants received life sentences and six of them were handed 25-year terms. One was sentenced to 14 years and three to nine years. Ethiopia regularly accuses Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1991 after a 30-year war, of seeking to destabilise it.

Lead Pollution Poisons 103 Chinese Children

Lead pollution from workshops in eastern China has seriously poisoned 103 children and has affected hundreds of other resident, according reports. The report stated that the pollution from tinfoil-making workshops in Zhejiang province left the children, aged 14 or younger, with 250 microgrammes or more of lead for every liter of blood. Another 26 adults were found to have “severe lead poisoning, or with more than 600 microgrammes of lead per liter of blood”. The government has said it will crack down on lead pollution, especially in Zhejiang province, which is home to many small manufacturers of batteries and other products that use the metal.

Authorities Find Dismembered Bodies of Mexican Governor’s Guards

The dismembered corpses of two bodyguards for the governor of Mexico's Nuevo Leon state, Rodrigo Medina, were found in plastic bags outside a supermarket, police authorities said Wednesday. The bags contained a message addressed to Medina, allegedly from the Gulf Cartel, which has been fighting turf battles with the rival Los Zetas Cartel in north-eastern areas near the US border. Authorities found another five bodies in and around Monterrey early Wednesday, including one of a woman who had been beheaded. The toll in suspected drug-related violence nationwide has surpassed 37,000 since President Felipe Calderon launched a military crackdown on organised crime in 2006.

US Helicopters Fire on Attackers in Iraq

U.S. military helicopters fired on suspected militia fighters in southern Iraq on Wednesday, killing one, while responding to a rocket attack on an airport, the U.S. military said. The U.S. helicopter intervention came after seven rockets were fired at U.S. and Iraqi forces stationed at Basra airport. A team of Iraqi security forces dispatched to the site, found three of the men responsible for the attack. One dead and two were wounded. In Pakistan, US missiles killed eight militants in separate strikes on Wednesday in Pakistan's lawless tribal district, an insurgent stronghold. Officials said the identities of Wednesday's dead were not clear but the areas drone targeted, are dominated by militants.

Floods, Landslides Displaces 55,000 in China

Torrential rain in southern China triggered floods and landslides, killing an unknown number of people and forcing more than 55,000 to leave their homes. Days of downpours across central and southern China have already killed nearly 100 people, the Chinese government said on Monday. "A new round of heavy rain has started to batter several southern regions, causing more deaths and triggering floods and landslides late Tuesday.

Al-Qaeda Names al-Zawahri as Bin Laden’s Successor

Al-Qaeda has selected its longtime No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, to succeed Osama bin Laden following last month’s U.S. commando raid that killed the terror leader, according to reports. Ayman al-Zawahri is the son of an upper middle class Egyptian family of doctors and scholars. In the statement, al-Qaeda “announces that Sheikh Dr Ayman al-Zawahri, may God guide him, assumed responsibility as the group’s amir”. Zawahri is believed by some to have been the “operational brains” behind the 9/11 attacks on the US. The US has vowed to hunt down and kill Zawahri. US top military officer, Adm Mike Mullen, said al-Qaeda still posed a threat to the US.

Mass Grave Found in Northern Town

A mass grave has been found near Jisr al Shughour amid violent clashes as the Syrian army took back control of the northern town. According to reports, the Syrian forces stormed through the town, last Sunday, and uncovered the graves of security men killed and buried by armed groups. It reported that their bodies bore marks of "atrocities" but it did not give more details. Heavy fighting erupted when Syrian forces and tanks reportedly stormed Jisr al Shughour, arresting several gunmen as they tried to gain hold of infrastructure said to have been taken over by the armed groups. The fighting and discovery of the grave comes as international outrage mounted at Syria's brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters.

Fighters ‘Shoot Down’ Sudan’s Army Planes, UN Raises Alarm over Violence

Fighters in north Sudan’s flashpoint state of South Kordofan claimed that they had shot down two northern army planes. Gamar Delman, a media adviser in the northern branch of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), said the shooting took place penultimate Friday as “our troops shot down two SAF (Sudanese Armed Forces) planes”. The northern army strongly denied that any of its aircraft had been downed. Heavy clashes between the SAF and northern members of the former southern rebel army have raged all week across South Kordofan, the north’s only oil-producing state, with intense fighting in and around state capital Kadugli.

Gunmen Storm Iraqi Council, Kill Eight

Gunmen, Monday, stormed an Iraqi provincial council building in the central city of Baquba, killing at least eight people and wounding several others. Officials say the death toll could rise as attackers held people hostage inside the building. Two car bombs exploded outside the building, allowing insurgents to storm the headquarters during a weekly council meeting. Twin suicide blasts were also reported to have gone off inside the building. Witnesses reported clashes inside the compound between the insurgents, armed with machine guns, and Iraqi security forces.

Over 9 Million Children Die Annually –UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said about 9.2 million children under the age of five die annually worldwide. UNICEF blamed the high rate of infant mortality on poor implementation of developmental programmes, as it lamented that more than half of the deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa due to preventable or treatable diseases. The Assistant Country Representative and Chief of Lagos Office of UNICEF, Mrs. Sara Beysolow-Nyanti, regretted that despite significant reductions in child mortality globally, children still died of diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, malnutrition, neonatal causes and HIV/AIDS. She nevertheless said UNICEF had developed the concept of Accelerated Child Survival and Development Packages in order to achieve the component of the Millennium Development Goals.

US Congress Votes against Funds for Libya

The US House of Representatives has voted to prohibit the use of funds for American military operations in Libya. Some Congress members have expressed dissatisfaction at President Obama’s decision to go ahead with operations in Libya without congressional authorisation. According to the War Powers Resolution, the President must seek congressional authorisation to send U.S. troops into combat and must withdraw the troop within 60 days if the Congress has not authorised the military action. Meanwhile, Tunisia flew a warplane and helicopter along its border with Libya on Tuesday after pro-Gaddafi troops fired Grad rockets into Tunisia. The explosions caused no damage and were likely to have been targeted toward anti-Gaddafi rebels, but could raise already high tensions between the two countries.

Egypt Detains Israeli over Allegations of Being a Spy

Egypt, last weekend, arrested an Israeli man suspected of spying and recruiting agents to destabilise Egypt and sow strife, the prosecutor and judicial sources said. But Israel's Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of the case. Judge Hesham Badawi of the supreme state security prosecution ordered the man to be detained for 15 days on suspicion of "spying on Egypt”. Egypt, which in 1979 became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel, has experienced months of political upheaval since protesters overthrew Mubarak, who had maintained close ties with Israel. But Israel’s Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has denied that an American-Israeli law student, Ilan Grapel, 27, being held as a spy in Egypt worked for Israeli intelligence.

Chinese Police Halt Riots Amid Migrant Workers’ Anger

Riot police in China have brought a semblance of calm to the crisis-ridden southern city of Zengcheng, but the anger of migrant workers at being discriminated against by the authorities remained. A state think-tank had warned that China’s tens of millions of workers from the countryside would become a serious threat unless they were treated more fairly. Riot police poured into Zengcheng after migrant workers went on the rampage over the weekend to protest the abuse of a pregnant street hawker. The protesters wrecked the government office, setting alight about six vehicles. Other clashes have erupted in southern China in recent weeks, including in Chaozhou, where hundreds of migrant workers demanding payment of wages at a ceramics factory attacked government buildings and set vehicles ablaze.