Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 45

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Man Kidnaps 10-Year-Old Girl, Locks Her in Unused Fridge

A 28-year-old man, Kenneth Oba, was on Thursday arrested by the police in Calabar for allegedly kidnapping and locking-up a 10-year-old girl in a refrigerator in an uncompleted building. Oba, a trader, was said to have called the little girl who sells banana into the building pretending to be interested in buying the Banana but instead locked-up the girl in an unused refrigerator. It was gathered that another little boy who accompanied the girl, began crying when she did not come out after a long while. This drew the attention of passersby who demanded to know why he was crying which the boy told them. Some group of people swiftly alerted the police who came to the building. Oba allegedly told the people that he had dogs in the fridge, and threatened that they would pay if he dogs ran away. But the people insisted on seeing what was in the fridge, only to find the girl locked up. The angry mob beat up Kenneth before he was rescued by the police and arrested.

SSS Parades 3 Suspects over Pipeline Vandalism

The State Security Service (SSS) Thursday paraded three men, who allegedly attacked an Agip Oil Company gas pipeline that led to the disruption of power supply nationwide on October 1, 2011. They were alleged to have blown up the pipeline in Nembe, Bayelsa State, to force the company to contract the surveillance of the pipeline to them. The Director, Media and Public Relations of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, stated that the pipeline was blown up with dynamites provided by the suspects, adding that the suspects had confessed to the crime and would be charged to court.

Robbers Kill Policeman, Worker in PH

Armed robbers struck in Port Harcourt on Monday morning, killing a police corporal and an employee of Everyday Emporium, a popular shopping centre at Rumuola. The hoodlums were said to have attacked the vehicle conveying the deceased and a police escort who were moving an undisclosed amount of money. An eyewitness disclosed that the bandits shot several times into the vehicle, killing the policeman and worker before escaping with the money to an unknown destination. Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, said apart from the two persons that lost their lives during the incident, two other policemen in the escort vehicle sustained gunshot injuries.

Navy Arrests Two Bunkerers in Calabar

The Nigerian Navy penultimate Saturday arrested two persons suspected to be involved in illegal bunkering in a creek at the Calabar channels. The arrest came on the heels of the warning by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Command, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, to pirates, militants, pipeline vandals and bunkerers operating within the command’s territorial waters to desist from such act. Jibrin, while taking delivery of six fast attack patrol boats donated by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Cross River State Government, said the Navy would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that the maritime boundaries are safe. The Commanding Officer of NNS Victory, Navy Commodore Kingdom Itoko, said though about 10 persons were involved in the illegal business, eight of them escaped while two were arrested.

Newspaper Van Torched by Suspected Militants

Suspected militants, in the early hours of Monday, in Mbiama axis of East-West road, hijacked and burnt a van belonging to Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation. Solomon Amajuoyi, the driver said he escaped by running far into the bush. Soldiers in later came to disperse the boys. As the soldiers were shooting into the air, the boys were running into the bush, shooting at the military men, who had superior fire power. The spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt.-Col. Timothy Antigha, confirmed the incident and said the situation was under control. Antigha also described the protesters as a “bunch of criminals”, whom he said were not part of the authentic ex-militants. An ex-militant group, known as the “Third Phase” of the Federal Amnesty programme, through its Secretary-General, Mr. Tonye Bobo, condemned the action of the ex-militants.

Three Police Officers Arrested Over Bayelsa Killing

Judgment might soon come to the family of Emmanuel Victor as the Police in Bayelsa State have admitted guilt over last week’s killing of a 25-year-old man for commenting on the extortion of money from commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada, by police officers at a check point in Yenagoa. The Police have arrested the three officers who took part in the murder. The men are now facing orderly room trial before a panel headed by a Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Boye Okubo. In a statement, Public Relations Officer, Mr. Eguavoen Emokpae (ASP), said investigation on the murder is ongoing. He assured that outcome of the trial would be made public.

Air Force Jet Crash-lands In Akwa Ibom

An Air Force jet on a routine test flight crash-landed at the Akwa Ibom International Airport, penultimate Friday evening, just a few metres from the landing strip. The plane was part of a 7-jet squadron on routine air drills, preparatory to a display at the seventh edition of the Nigeria Air Force games in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.  No injuries were reported as the pilot and co-pilot reportedly ejected safely from the crashed plane. One last week, the Chief of Air Staff had told the House of Representatives that the Nigerian Airforce may be grounded due to obsolete and dilapidated facilities and underfunding.

Pirates Attack Boats in Bayelsa

Banditry in the waters of Bayelsa seems to be on the increase as suspected pirates on Monday, attacked four passenger boats along the waterways of Saibaturu community in Nembe LGA, carting away millions of naira. Meanwhile, in on-going operations to dislodge illegal refinery operators and crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta region, the Joint Task Force (JTF), last weekend impounded another vessel allegedly engaged in the lifting of illegally refined petroleum products along Akasa River, Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State. Lt Col. Timothy Antigha, the command media coordinator, said the vessel was arrested with two crew members. About 5,000 tons of illegally refined diesel, four storage tanks with capacity of 7,500 litres each, three drums containing 250 litres of illegal diesel each, six electric pumping machines and several hoses were recovered from the vessel.

Man, 28, Arraigned for 4-Year-Old

The Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Atani, on Monday remanded a 28-year-old man, Chidebere Igwe, in prison custody for allegedly defiling a 4- year- old girl. The prosecution counsel, S.O Onele, alleged that the accused had carnal knowledge of the little girl at Iyiowa Odekpe in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State. The accused pleaded not guilty and denied ever knowing the little girl. But the mother of the victim, Mrs. Francisca Ogirishi, said the act became known when her daughter became sick. She said “at the point of death, my daughter as she told me how Chidebere constantly took her to his room after giving her biscuit’ and that ‘Chidebere used to bring what he uses to urinate and put in my own.” The magistrate ordered for the presentation of medical report on the alleged rape and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody without any option of bail and adjourned the case till November 14, 2011 for further hearing.

Medical Doctor Shot in Umuahia

Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia, Abia State, Dr. Chuku Abali, was shot, Monday evening, in the premises of the hospital by unknown persons. Abali was said to have finished a meeting with a 3-man delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health, to resolve the crisis between the hospital management and medical laboratory scientists. The meeting was said to have risen to resume today before the ugly incident occurred. The CMD was said to have opened his car in his compound after being driven in and was trying to bring some documents from his file when he was shot at about 7.30 pm. Abia State Police Commissioner, Bala Hassan, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.

Current Oil Theft Unprecedented -Shell

The Shell Petroleum Development of Nigeria (SPDC) has raised alarm over what it called an unprecedented scale of crude oil theft in the country, saying it has discovered 16 new oil theft points in the “Imo River field alone”. The oil firm also said 10 additional illegal oil bunkering incidents had been recorded in the Eastern Niger Delta since it shut down production from Imo River field on August 28, following an upsurge of sabotage activities. Shell’s Vice-President, Health Safety and Environment (HSE) and Corporate Affairs, sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Tony Attah, who made these disclosures, said production from the affected field would “remain suspended until the crude theft and illegal refining activities have stopped”.. He restated that more than 75 per cent of all oil spill incidents and more than 70 per cent of all oil spilled from the SPDC facilities in the Niger Delta between 2006 and 2010 were caused by sabotage, theft and illegal refining.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

IG Petitioned over Delta Police Shooting of Unarmed Man

Angered by the manner he was shot and abandoned by security operatives drafted to maintain peace in a family quarrel at Ubulu Okiti, Aniocha South Council of Delta State, Chiasa Okeleke has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, in his quest for justice. Okeleke explained on his hospital bed that a family feud on September 5 led to the case being reported to the police by his cousins. He said that when the police came to their home, they did not meet any of the suspects. According to Okeleke, the police demanded that they report the following day to the police station. The victim said he was surprised to learn, on his way to the Ogwashi-Uku Police Division, that his eldest brother had been arrested at a police checkpoint near Isele-Uku. He accused the police of shooting sporadically for over 40 minutes.

5 Die in Niger Bridge Auto Collision

At least five persons were on Thursday killed, while seven others were injured on top of the River Niger Bridge when an 18-seater bus rammed into a commercial motor bike. According to eyewitnesses, the commercial bus was fully loaded and was heading toward Onitsha from Asaba the accident occurred which resulted to the multiple casualties. The Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Larry Osita and the Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps Mr. Ben Akunne both confirmed the fatal accident.

Fleeing Robber Falls into Well

A suspected member of an armed robbery gang in Iguosa community near Benin City reportedly fell into a well while trying to escape after carrying out a robbery operation in the area. The suspect, Godwin Akpan, 18 was among seven suspected armed robbers and car snatchers paraded by Edo State Police Command in Benin City. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Hurds, disclosed that Akpan who had in company of others now at large, robbed in the area was escaping from the scene of operation when he mistakenly fell into the well. It was learnt that a dog in the area which continued to bark, aroused the curiosity of the owner who later discovered Akpan battling for life. Recovered from the suspect was one cut to size gun, one live cartridge and three handsets allegedly found in the well.  The suspect said that he was chased by residents of the community who alleged that he snatched a phone from a lady whom he claimed was his ex-girlfriend.

Multiple Accident Claims 8 in Benin

No fewer than eight lives were reportedly lost in a multiple accident which occurred along the Murtala- Muhammed way in Benin City. The accident involved commuter bus, a Volkswagen Jetta car, as well as a moving bike and a tipper lorry, which fell at the opposite side of the road, killing a pedestrian. The tanker lorry was allegedly on top speed when its break system suddenly developed mechanical fault before ramming into other vehicles. Police spokesman, , Mr. Ejiroro Awhara, however said only two persons died in the accident.

Edo Police Arrest Robbery Suspects, Impersonator

The Edo State Police Command has arrested three persons, including a driver to a member of the Edo State House of Assembly for conspiracy and stealing a Camry Car and the sum of N1.3 million belonging to the legislator, Hon. Jude Ise Idehen. The driver, Peter Solomon, 25, had allegedly conspired with two others Ajibade Akeem, 27 and Uyi Edo, 30 and another person at large, James Akhere to steal the car and money from the house of the lawmaker in Benin- City. The State Deputy Commissioner of police, Mr. Mohammed Hurdi, said the suspects had arranged to sell the car in Lagos where they were apprehended by police. He further announced that two armed robbery suspects, Godwin Akpan and one Kingsley Otene, have been arrested in connection with separate robbery incidents, while another was nabbed for allegedly impersonating a military officer.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Kidnappers’ Den Located Near Ondo Police Hqtrs

The police in Ondo State uncovered a kidnappers’ den, located a few metres from the state Police Command headquarters in Akure. The house, a three bedroom bungalow, was said to have been used by some kidnap suspects, two of whom allegedly confessed that they had used the place for various operations. The police said they got to know about the den with the help of a victim. The leader of the suspected kidnapping syndicate, Oghenekweh Igagah, confessed that he was a member of a gang that had been terrorising Delta, Rivers and Ondo States. The state Commissioner of Police, Sanni Magaji, also paraded nine persons, including a 65-year-old-man, Mr. Isaac Suleiman; and his son, Seun, over armed robbery activities. Magaji said nine exotic cars were recovered from the kidnappers, while about 11 others, ammunition and charms, were recovered from the suspects at their hide-out.

3 Policemen, 2 Others Killed in Oshodi Shootout

Three policemen, a passer-by and a robbery suspect, on Wednesday, lost their lives during a gun duel between police operatives and a gang of armed robbers at the Oshodi area of Lagos State. According to eyewitness account, the gun duel occurred, when the gunmen attempted to escape after robbing a branch of Thermocool office at Eyitayo Street in Oshodi. It was further learnt that in an attempt to stop them, some of the policemen had opened fire on the fleeing suspects, who in turn replied the policemen, cutting three policemen in the process. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, confirmed the incident, but debunked claims that three policemen were killed.

Robbers Raid Osun Drug depot

Suspected armed robbers stormed the Central Medical Store of Osun State Government, in Osogbo, penultimate Sunday, carting away drugs worth millions of naira. The head of the State Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, said the stolen drugs were purchased in bulk for the free health programme of the Rauf Aregbesola administration. Two of the guards at the medical store alleged that the robbers came in a truck. The two security men, who said they were tied by the robbers, explained that the bandits stormed the store around 1am and left at 3.30am. Commissioner of Police, Osun command, Solomon Olusegun, said investigation had commenced into the robbery.

Women Foil Kidnap of Lagos Community Leader

A group of armed persons at the weekend, allegedly, attempted to kidnap the chairman of Ilamoshe Community Development Association (CDA), in Ejigbo Area of Lagos State, Val Iwuchukwu. Eye witness disclosed that Iwuchukwu was seized along the Street, about 6:45 pm, but a group of women quickly intervened to frustrate the mission of the gunmen.  It was gathered that the CDA chairman was hit with repeated heavy blows by the six abductors before he was ordered into their vehicle. But some women, numbering about 30, it was gathered, foiled the abduction mission by blocking all entrances and exits from the Ilamoshe estate before putting a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer of Ejigbo LCDA, who promptly sent a police rescue team that eventually picked up Iwuchukwu, who was then dazed by the blows he had received.

Lagos Warns Owners Of Defective, Uncompleted Structures To Act

Owners of defective buildings in Lagos State, whose houses had been marked for demolition, have been warned to undertake the demolition themselves as government intervention could be costlier and might even lead to tougher sanctions. Also, owners of structures under construction have been warned not to rent out such buildings in hurry. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, who handed down the warning, said his ministry had concluded updating its record and would soon publish a list of identified structures marked for demolition by the state government, after which owners would be given less than 48 hours to do the right thing.

Court Awards Adigwe Damages against EFCC for Illegal Arrest

A Federal High Court in Lagos has awarded the former Managing Director of AfriBank (now MainStreet Bank), Mr. Sebastine Adigwe, the sum of N500, 000 as damages for his arrest and detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 3 without a court order. The court, presided by Justice James Tsoho, also chided the anti-graft commission for unlawfully arresting and detaining the former managing director and breaching his fundamental rights. The court, in the judgment on a fundamental human rights suit filed by Adigwe on May 6 over his arrest and detention when he was enjoying a bail granted him by the court, held that the anti-graft agency failed to utilise the litany of courts in Lagos  to arraign the applicant within 24 hours of his arrest.

Fire Razes Nasco House

The seven-storey Nasco House on Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos, was gutted by fire on Monday night, the building had collapsed to ground zero, leaving behind a mound of concrete debris and twisted rods. Last week, a six-story building had also collapsed in Maryland area of Lagos. The razing of the Nasco House and the eventual collapse may have thus raised the alarm on the state of buildings in the city. However, police and firemen on the scene said no life was lost in the incident. Eyewitnesses said that when the fire started, men of the Lagos State Fire Service, who were mobilised to the site tried unsuccessfully to put it out.

Baba Suwe Gets Released

An Ikeja High court Tuesday ordered the release of Nollywood comedian, Mr Babatunde Omidina (aka Baba Suwe) if by Friday, November 4, he fails to excrete any substance that is in compliance in nature with narcotics as alleged by the National Drug Law Enforcement agency (NDLEA). Justice Yetunde Idowu granted him a conditional bail of N500, 000 after the elapse of the detention order granted the NDLEA by the federal High court in Lagos. Bamidele Aturu, counsel to Baba Suwe, held that the NDLEA has no solid case and has breached the fundamental rights of his client. NDLEA’s counsel, Femi Oloruntoba, said that Omidina was arrested based on the fact that the machine at the airport indicated that he ingested some narcotic substances. Baba Suwe has sued the NDLEA for N100m and public apology over breach of his fundamental rights. He was set free on Friday.

GENERAL

Nigerian Lawmakers Move to Control Influx of Firearms into Nigeria

The House of Representatives day moved to stop the proliferation of firearms in Nigeria by considering a bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the Firearms Act Number 32, 1959. The bill also seeks to prescribe more stringent and modern ways of firearms control. Honourable Umar Adam Katsayal (CPC, Katsina), said the rate of fire arms proliferation in the country was alarming and poses serious threat to public peace. He said the firearms Act appeared to have gone obsolete in view of recent developments in the country, noting that there was urgent need to make a comprehensive review of the Act. Supporting the bill, House Deputy Leader Leo Ogor suggested legalising firearms as a means to prevent criminal elements from taking the lives of the innocent Nigerians.

Nasarawa Police Bust Carjacking Gang

A suspected car snatcher, Sani Yakubu, 25, who was arrested alongside another gang member, Tony Morris, has blamed poverty for his woes. Yakubu was nabbed while driving a stolen vehicle from Lafia, Nasarawa State, to Jos, Plateau State. The police commissioner, Mr. Dipo Ayeni, disclosed that Yakubu and Morris were intercepted at a checkpoint, near the Police College, as they were driving towards Jos. He revealed that they were also in possession of a brownie pistol, a bunch of master keys and a long iron with sharp edge, when they were apprehended by the police. He said they were handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) adding that during interrogation, they confessed being specialists in snatching cars in Abuja and Nasarawa States.

China Seeks Stringent Laws against Fake Drugs in Nigeria

The Chinese Government, on Wednesday, urged Nigeria to enact stringent laws to eliminate cases of fake drugs in the country. The Director of the Chinese State Food and Drugs Administration, Mr. Wu Zhen, said this at a press briefing in Abuja. The SFDA CEO, who was accompanied by top officials of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Regulatory agency, said for Nigeria to achieve its objective of ridding the country of counterfeit drugs, tough laws must be enacted. The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, said it is becoming increasingly necessary to ensure that regulators especially, put in place policies to ensure quality, safe and effective medicines to the public as counterfeiters now produce nearly exact replicas of genuine drugs, copying every detail including packaging. A Memorandum of Understanding is being worked on to formalise a relationship in the areas of joint campaigns and other forms of public enlightenment.

Hajj: 19 Nigerians Die, 14 Abscond

About 19 Muslim pilgrims from Nigeria have been confirmed dead in the ongoing Hajj. According to Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Abdullahi Garba Aminci, while some died naturally, others died as a result of accident. This is as the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Coordinator of Madina, Sheik Musa Isa, disclosed that 14 Nigerians have so far absconded, as they left their travel passports without any trace in Madina.

Military Task Force Arrests Gun Makers in Jos

The Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau State, Thursday, paraded five suspects in connection with gun fabrication in Jos. They were arrested on Wednesday by members of the special task force during a raid at the Kuru area in Jos South LGA. According to the Media/Information Officer of the STF, Captain Charles Ekeocha, the suspects will be handed over to the police for further investigation. Early last year, a gun manufacturing outfit was also discovered at Kuru when members of the Nigeria Police were pursuing a murder case in the area. Some suspects were arrested. Meanwhile, the STF has also paraded 11 suspects in connection with Indian hemp trade alongside their lady kingpin in Bassa LGA.

JTF Seizes 5,000 Arms in Maiduguri
…to Continue House-to-House Search

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State has recovered about 5,000 assorted arms and ammunition in Maiduguri. Most of these arms and ammunition were recovered from the members of the public who voluntarily submitted them before the expiration of the October 31 deadline given by the task force.  Others were recovered during the ongoing house-to-house search as well as those dropped at refuse dumps at some locations in the Maiduguri metropolis by some unknown persons. The JTF spokesman, Lt Col. Hassan Mohammed, said the house-to-house search would continue in Maiduguri, appealing to members of the public to support the JTF to restore peace and order in the state. Meanwhile, Mohammed said the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on Thursday shot and killed an on-duty soldier charged with guarding a market.

Nigerian Air Force Announces Promotion Of Officers

The Nigerian Air Force has announced the promotion of 140 senior officers. The announcement was contained in a statement issued by Air Commodore Yusuf ANAS, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force. The statement said officers promoted included 12 Air Vice Marshals, 41 Air Commodores, 25 Group Captains and 62 Wing Commanders. It stated that those promoted to the ranks of Air Vice Marshals are AVM Ibrahim Mohammed, AVM Mohammed Maisaka, AVM Nicholas Spiff, AVM Adesola Amosu and AVM James Gbum.

SSS Arrests Teenagers over Threat Message

The State Security Service (SSS) said it had traced text messages about a purported plan by Boko Haram to attack the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly complex to two pupils of a secondary school in Kagara, Niger State. The suspects, aged 17 and 18, were said to have circulated text messages in which they claimed that Boko Haram planned to attack specific targets in Abuja on October 28. In a statement by its Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, the SSS said the pupils were apprehended following its investigation, adding that they had been released to their parents. The agency urged parents to pay more attention to the activities of their children both at home and at school, stressing that the provision of GSM phones to pupils should be discouraged.

Cleric Killed in Borno
…As Blast Targets JTF

An Islamic cleric was shot dead in Maiduguri last weekend by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram sect. Some gunmen were said to have stormed the residence of the Islamic cleric, Ali Gana at Kaleri ward and shot him severally. Similarly, a bomb blast targeted at the Joint Task Force (JTF) men occurred at a check point within the metropolis. However, no life was lost in the blast. Operation Officer of the JTF, Col. Victor Ebhaleme, confirmed the blast and assassination of the cleric. He also said the JTF operatives were still in search of the perpetrators, and no arrest had been made. He, however, reminded residents that the deadline for the submission of arms and ammunition expires today. Ebhaleme disclosed that some people had complied with the directive, saying this led to the recovery of a large number of weapons by the JTF.

Tribunal Upholds Jonathan's Election Victory

The Presidential Election Tribune has thrown out the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) party’s challenge to President Goodluck Jonathan's victory in April’s election. The tribunal upheld the result and rejected calls by the main opposition party for a recount in several parts of the country. Jonathan was declared winner of the April 16 election with 59 percent of the vote but his nearest rival, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, who polled 32 percent, refused to accept the outcome and his party filed a petition to challenge it in May. "The petition fails in its entirety and is hereby dismissed," Justice Kumai Akaahs, ruled. The CPC had argued that the vote was marred by irregularities. Election observers and most Nigerians say the vote was the most credible in many years.

Task Force Bans Use of Praying Grounds in Jos for Sallah

The Special Task Force in Jos has banned the use of the Polo and Rukuba road praying grounds to prevent bloodbath during the Eid-el Kabir celebration in Jos. The embargo followed threats by Muslim and Christian youths to cause confusion during the celebration. Attempts by a Muslim sect, Izalla, to use the Rukuba Road praying ground during Eid-el Fitir in August resulted in a fracas with over 40 people reportedly killed and 60 vehicles destroyed. The STF in a statement by its Media/Information Officer, Captain Charles Ekeocha, on Tuesday said the embargo was temporary, adding that the issue would be revisited in due course. This came as one Dahiru Yakubu was arraigned for the Christmas Eve multiple bombings in Gada Biu and Angwan Rukuba areas of Jos North.

Accident Claims 5 in Kano

A tragic accident occurred in Kano State wiping out five occupants of a Mercedes Benz. The vehicle, it was gathered, was driving to Kano from the Zaria end of the highway before it skipped off the track at Tamburawa Bridge. The actual cause of the tragedy was not clear as the car unexpectedly ran into a deep pothole at the edge of the bridge as a result of which the driver lost control. Sympathizers, including some of local divers, immediately mobilized a rescue operation team but their efforts were insufficient to save the lives of the victims. It took the arrival of the officers of the Fire Service to bring out the mangled body of the deceased including that of the wife that was cut into two and an infant, whose head was severed. Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Kano State, Alhaji Hassan Kogari while confirming the incident blamed the state of the road for the accident.

Nigeria is not Developed for State Police –PSC

Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr. Parry Osayande, has said Nigeria is not yet politically developed to allow the decentralization of the Nigeria Police. Osayande, in a briefing to Senator Dahiru Kuta-led Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, also said past military regimes were responsible for the dearth of professionalism in the Police. He said interferences in the administration of the police coupled with poor funding, understaffing and collapse of police infrastructure during military regimes had left the Police in a very bad shape. He accused the military of infiltrating the Nigeria Police with unqualified personnel through fraudulent recruitments and promotions, but said the commission was already on salvage mission to restore professionalism in the Police.

FG Reduces BA’s Flights to Nigeria

In what is considered a retaliatory move, the Federal Government has slashed British Airways’ (BA) flights to Lagos from seven times a week to three, with effect from Tuesday, November 8. Before the flight reduction, the United Kingdom national carrier, which has operated into Nigeria for over 75 years, was flying seven times weekly to Lagos and same number of times to Abuja. The Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed the directive given to BA. The decision to slash the frequency of the airline to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, is not unconnected with the forced suspension of Arik Air flights to London Heathrow from Abuja by UK’s Airport Coordination Limited (ACL) which denied the Nigerian airline the landing slots it requested.

FG Seals-off 27 Fuel Pumps in Kaduna for Shortchanging Customers

About 27 fuel pumps have been sealed off by the Federal Government in seven petrol stations in Kaduna. The exercise, which was carried out on the order of the Minister of Trade and Investment, would cover the North-West geopolitical zone of the country and would soon be extended to the South-West. The team leader of a national task force of the Department of Weights and Measures in the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr Sidi Mohammed Sada, who sealed up the stations, said the sealed pumps were found to be using irregular equipment to shortchange end users of petroleum products.

Labour Grounds MRS over Mass Retrenchment

Operations of the MRS Plc, a major operator in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, have been grounded by its workers who are protesting the move by the management of the company to lay off some of them without due process. All MRS retail stations had not been able to sell petroleum products, because the labour unions had instructed their members to stop work, both at the petrol stations and at the various depots across the country. According to officials of the Petroleum and National Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) and National Union of Petroleum and National Gas workers (NUPENG), the management of the company had informed them that they wanted to reorganise the company, but frustrated efforts by the union officers to fashion out the process to be followed before such exercise was executed.

NIMET Workers Down-tool

Workers in the  Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), affiliated to the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service Employees (AUPCTRSE), on Monday, threatened to withdraw their weather forecast services to airlines, ships, oil rigs, agricultural enterprises and other public and corporate agencies in the next one week over 15 months unpaid relativity salary increase. AUPCTRSE’s Acting General Secretary, Comrade Phillip Agbonkonkon, made the declaration in Lagos. According to Agbonkonkon, virtually all parastatal had had the circular implemented for them before the end of 2010 and effective from July 1, 2010. “And every effort made since 2010 to date, yielded no result,” he said.

INTERNATIONAL

80 Killed As Rebel Attack South Sudanese State

At least 80 people, including 60 rebels were killed penultimate Saturday, when government forces in the South Sudanese Unity state repelled an attack by rebel militia, according to officials. The Unity Information Minister, Gideon Gatpan Thoar, said the rebels – most of them fighting under the banner of the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) – attacked Mayom town. He said that the majority of the civilian casualties were residents gunned down while running for shelter. Among the dead was the notorious rebel fighter, Colonel Ruadheal Gatwech, he said. He added that SPLA government forces also captured one soldier in Mayom town and three more in the east of the county. Officials said that the rebels came in “hundreds” from South Kordofan, a state on Sudan’s new border where conflict between government forces and rebels has flared since June.

Rights Group Alleges Revenge Attacks in Misrata

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Libya’s Misrata militias of carrying out revenge attacks on the displaced residents of the nearby town of Tawargha, a stronghold of Muammar Gaddafi’s loyalists during Libya‘s eight-month conflict. The group alleged reports of the militias shooting unarmed Tawarghans, arbitrary arrests and beatings of detainees, and in a few cases, leading to death. The group urged the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya to bring the more than 100 armed groups from Misrata under a central command and hold them to account for their actions. In Kenya, the HRW also called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the killings and forced disappearances of more than 1,000 Kenyans. The group claimed that more than 300 Kenyans went missing and 1,074 were killed from 2006 to 2008. The group also said 754 of the dead were killed by the Sabaot Land Defense Force, a militia that raped and mutilated its victims.

Turkey Ends Search for Survivors of Quake, Death Toll Nears 600

The death toll from last week's earthquake in southeast Turkey rose to 596 on Sunday, the day after authorities stopped searching for survivors and focused on helping thousands of homeless families in crisis. The government's disaster management website said more than 43,000 tents had been handed out in Van. Officials say that is more than needed because people whose homes are not so badly damaged are demanding tents as they feel safer under canvas. The relief operation is politically sensitive as the southeast is where most of Turkey's Kurdish minority lives and the army have been fighting a separatist insurgency there that has cost more than 40,000 lives since it first erupted in 1984. After criticism in the first days of the disaster, state authorities cranked up relief operations, asking for foreign help providing tents, containers and prefabricated houses.

UNESCO Admits Palestine

The U.N. Cultural Agency (UNESCO) has admitted Palestine as a full member in a highly divisive bid. US lawmakers had threatened to withhold some $80 million in funding to UNESCO if it approved Palestinian membership. Palestinian officials are seeking full membership in the United Nations, but because that effort is expected to take some time, they separately sought membership at Paris-based UNESCO. The United States and Israel are opposed to the move, which will plunge the UN cultural body into crisis as they withdraw their funding. Israel's ambassador to UNESCO, Nimrod Barkan, said that his country was resigned to a Palestinian victory. Staunch Israel ally the United States in the 1990s banned the financing of any United Nations organisation that accepts Palestine as a full member, meaning the body would lose $70 million, or 22 percent of its annual budget.

China Coal Mine Blast Kills 29

A gas explosion at a coal mine in central China has killed 29 miners. About 35 miners were working in the state-owned mine at the time of the blast, penultimate Saturday, at the Xialiuchong Coal Mine in Hengyang city, Hunan province. All the bodies of the dead had been recovered, while six miners had been rescued and were being treated in hospital. The mine, which was owned by the city government, was legally registered, state television said. The mine had more than 500 employees but only 160 workers were on shift at the time of the accident. The cause of the accident was still under investigation.

Jets Bomb Somali Town, 12 Killed

At least 12 people were killed on Sunday when two Kenyan jets bombed the southern Somali town of Jilib, residents and officials said. Kenya moved its troops into Somalia in mid-October in pursuit of Somali insurgents, Al-Shabaab, which it blames for series of kidnappings on Kenyan soil and frequent assaults on its security forces at the border. Twelve civilians died and 52 others were injured after Kenyan jets bombarded an IDP (Internally Displaced People) camp in the town, said Mohamud Ali Harbi, a local elder. The al Shabaab group said the five bombs dropped by the planes hit a bus stop, the IDP camp and an area just outside of the town. But Kenya dismissed the reports as “al Shabaab propaganda”. Kenya’s military said its jets hit the town of Jilib on Sunday in an operation targeting fighters from the Somali insurgent group, killing 10 and wounding many.

Arizona Smashes Mexican Drug Smuggling Cartel

US authorities say they have broken up a massive drug-smuggling network run by a Mexican cartel in Arizona. A total of 76 suspects have been arrested and huge quantities of drugs and arms seized in a series of raids.  The ring used backpackers and vehicles to smuggle marijuana, cocaine and heroin across Arizona's western desert. The network was linked to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and generated an estimated $2 billion in profit over the last five years, officials said. The bust followed a 17-month investigation by multiple US law enforcement agencies.

US Soldier Jailed for Rape in South Korea

A US soldier based in South Korea has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping a teenager near his base. The 21-year-old broke into the studio room of the woman and carried out a sexual attack lasting several hours, threatening her with scissors. The sentence was one of the longest given to a US soldier in South Korea. US government and military officials have apologised publicly for the rape. Crimes committed by US soldiers in the past have sparked public protests against the American military presence in South Korea. The soldier, whose name has not been made public, attacked the 18-year-old in the early hours of 24 September. He broke into her room near his base in Dongducheon city. The court said the soldier had also stolen money from the woman before he fled.

12 Dead after Rare US Storm

Devastation from a rare and deadly October snowstorm lingered in the Northeast Monday, leaving 2.2 million houses without power, closing schools, snarling the morning commute and postponing Halloween fun, reports Reuters. The storm that raged from West Virginia to Maine from Saturday until late Sunday was blamed for at least 12 deaths, most of them on slippery roads. Many roads were still barricaded to steer traffic away from downed trees and power lines. Utility officials said the storm caused more tree damage than most winter storms because leaves had not yet fallen so trees caught far more snowfall than usual. Across the Northeast, about 2.2 million customers remained without power Monday. Theo Brinkerhoff, 4, who planned to dress as a ghost on Monday but was forced to wear a heavy sweater and snow boots under his costume to keep warm, refused to believe it was the bewitching autumn holiday.

Libya Elects Businessman, Al-Kib, Head of Interim Govt
…as UN Security Council Express Concern over Libya Arms Stockpile

A businessman, Abdel Rahim al-Kib, has been elected as Libya's prime minister in a public vote carried out by the members of the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC). Kib, who hails from the Libyan capital, Tripoli, came out in front in the battle for the post ahead of four other candidates in the first round, garnering 26 out of 51 votes. Meanwhile, after seven months of an aerial bombing campaign that helped depose longtime ruler, Muammar Gaddafi, NATO officially ends its mission in Libya Monday. But the United Nations Security Council has expressed "concern" over the fate of the massive weapons stockpile built up in Libya under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The council called on Libya and its neighbours to stamp out the proliferation of looted arms, worried they could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

Deadly Car Bomb Blast Hit Aid Offices Kandahar

About four people have been killed in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar as an explosive-laden vehicle was driven into a checkpoint in a neighbourhood housing the United Nations refugee agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other aid offices. The UNHCR said that three of its members of staff were killed in the attack. An Afghan policeman was also killed. The area also houses the offices of United States U.S.-based International Relief and Development (IRD). The Taliban said their target was the UNHCR. The agency’s high commissioner, Antonio Guterres, said that the functioning of its Kandahar office had been seriously disrupted. The bombing came two days after 17 people died in the deadliest attack yet in Kabul against the US-led NATO mission.

Explosion Kills 7 in China, Injures 200

A massive explosion near an expressway ramp in southwest China killed at least seven people and injured about 200 while also destroying several homes on Tuesday. Reports say the midday blast occurred in the Guizhou province city of Fuquan and was allegedly caused by three explosives-laden vehicles that caught fire. Heavy machinery was being used to search for victims in the wreckage. Reports say two trucks carrying a total of about 70 tons of explosives caused the blast. About 200 persons were being treated at nearby hospitals for injuries.

French Journal Bombed after it Portrays Mohammad in Cartoon

A firebomb attack gutted the headquarters of French satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, on Wednesday after it put an image of the Prophet Mohammad on its cover. The cover shows a cartoon of Mohammad and a speech bubble with the words: "100 lashes if you don't die of laughter." It has the headline "Charia Hebdo," in a reference to Muslim sharia law, and says Mohammad guest-edited the issue. Charlie Hebdo's website on Wednesday appeared to have been hacked and showed images of a mosque with the message "no God but Allah." Many Muslims object to any representation of Allah or Mohammad, or to irreverent treatment of the Koran, and such incidents have inflamed protests in the past, sometimes violent. Police said nobody was injured in the fire that broke out at about 1 a.m. The French Muslim Council (CFCM) denounced the attack while also faulting the publication.

Refugees Face Organ Theft in the Sinai

Bedouin smugglers involved in people trafficking are also believed to be stealing organs from refugees who are unable to pay their demands for large amounts of cash to take them into Israel. The New Generation Foundation for Human Rights and the EveryOne Group, from Italy, have presented evidence that the bodies of African refugees have been found in the Sinai desert with organs missing. The Sawarka Bedouin tribe, one of the largest in Sinai, was named by one Bedouin source as being involved in organ thefts. A Sawarka leader said he was aware that people trafficking was going on in Sinai and that in some cases refugees were held in bonded labor and tortured.