Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 19

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Shell Shuts Down Major Pipeline for Repair

Royal Dutch Shell PLC said Friday it shut down one of its major pipelines in the Niger Delta for repair. It blamed incessant thefts on the line for causing chronic leaks along it. The shutdown affects the Nembe Creek Trunkline and cuts off about 60,000 barrels of oil a day from Shell's production in the country. Shell's Nigerian subsidiary gave no estimates for how long the shutdown would last. The pipeline carries both Shell and other company's oil to Nigeria's Bonny Terminal for export abroad. It had been replaced in 2010, but in the time since, has become a huge target for thieves who use drills and hacksaws to attached spigots along the line to steal raw crude.

Hoodlums Kidnap Pharmacist in Owerri

Owner of Milan Pharmacy Limited, Owerri, Chief Monday Okere, was, on Wednesday, kidnapped by yet to be identified hoodlums. The hoodlums, numbering about six, stormed the pharmacy at about 8pm, shooting into the air and took the victim away in a car. It was also gathered that the kidnappers shot and injured Okere’s personal driver. Residents lamented that such an incident took place in the heart of Owerri unchallenged by security agencies.

Mob Kills Policeman in Nsukka

Tension mounted at Ogbede in Igbo-Etiti LGA of Enugu State last weekend as irate mob attacked and allegedly killed one police officer and left another unconscious. It was learnt that the two victims of the mob attack were on mission to arrest an alleged suspect in a fight between two people at Ogbede junction along Enugu-Makurdi expressway. On arrival at the scene, one of the two involved in a brawl lay helpless due to the wounds he sustained during the fight. The two policemen, whose identities were not immediately known, made effort to arrest the other person that wounded the other, but he refused on the grounds that no police could arrest him. His resistance attracted a larger crowd to the scene who supported him to ensure he was not taken away by the policemen. The crowd allegedly closed in on the policemen, prompting one of the cops to fire into the air to scare away the crowd. Unfortunately, the stray bullet killed one of the people who gathered at the scene of the incident.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Gunmen Kill Oshiomhole’s Aide in Benin

Gunmen shot and killed, Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Private Secretary to Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole. Oyerinde was killed, penultimate Friday, by unknown persons in his Ogbor residence in Benin. Government sources said the gunmen scaled the fence of his house in the morning and gained entry into his room through the window and shot him dead. Oyerinde, who hailed from Osun State, had worked with Oshiomhole as his private secretary since he assumed office as governor. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Etim Bassey, said the police are gathering facts about the alleged killing.’ The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Peter Okhiria, confirmed the incident.

Vigilante Group Calls for Government, Public Cooperation

Vigilante group of Nigeria Edo State Command recently in Benin City decorated three of their officers with various ranks for excellence in service delivery. Edo state commandant of vigilante group of Nigeria, Adebusoye Olusegu, said that the officers decorated have put in their best towards the work of the vigilante group in their various areas of assignment. He said the primary assignment of the vigilante group was to support other security agencies in the country to fight crime and prevention noting that his group was licensed to carry fire arms but with some limitations stressing that the group cannot pursue criminals with ordinary hand adding that his men are combat ready to fight criminals. He however, called on the Edo State government, local government and other spirited individuals and communities to come out and assist the vigilante group morally and financially and to donate fast moving vehicles to make the group more effective.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

5 Killed as Gunmen Attack 3 Banks

The commercial town of Ikare, in Akoko North East LGA of Ondo State was on Monday night, thrown into mourning when suspected armed robbers attacked three commercial banks simultaneously with dynamite and sporadic gunshots, killing five persons. One of the banks was set ablaze by the robbers when they could not gain entrance into the vault, while the security barriers at other banks were damaged. Those killed include two commercial motorcycle operators, a pastor, a security guard attached to one of the banks and a boy. The robbers, who were said to be about 30 in number, on their arrival, went straight to the police station, and sacked the place while policemen fled the superior gun power of the robbers. State Police spokesman, Adeniran Aremu, explained that those who were killed were hit by the stray bullets of the robbers.

Police Recover Corpse of Suspected Thief That Jumped to Death

Police authorities in Kwara State, on Tuesday, confirmed that a body recovered from Asa River, Ilorin, yesterday was the remains of a suspected motorcycle thief who jumped into the river in the course of a hot pursuit by a mob recently. According to the Kwara Police Spokesman, Dabo Ezekiel, it was “a case of nemesis catching up with a thief”. Witnesses claimed that the suspect stole a motorbike at Unity Road and tried to escape with it but a mob went after him on about five motorcycles, and when he saw that he had been rounded up, he jumped into the river.

Police Arrest Lebanese, Nigerian for Murder

Police in Lagos, on Tuesday, announced the arrested of a Lebanese and his Nigerian counterpart who allegedly robbed one Aliyu Sanni of 10,000 dollars and stabbed him to death. The state police command's spokesman, Joseph Jaiyeoba, disclosed that the victim was killed in a hotel in Apapa area. He added that the suspects were arrested on Monday by policemen attached to the Apapa Division. Jaiyeoba further said that a team of mobile policemen, on Monday, killed a suspected armed robber. He said that the robbery suspect was killed in a shoot-out with the police at Oregun Industrial Estate's warehouse, while his other accomplices escaped with gunshot wounds.

ICPC Arrests Teacher for Examination Malpractice

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have arrested a school teacher in Akure, Ondo State, for allegedly aiding students in the on-going WAEC examinations. Resident Consultant to ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed that the teacher was arrested following a tip-off from members of the National Anti-Corruption Volunteers Corps (NAVC), Akure Zone. The NAVC members had reported that some teachers in an Akure school were conniving with some students to cheat in the examinations following, which the ICPC detectives stormed the school and caught the teacher, some students and other accomplices red handed. However, other teachers and students involved in the malpractice escaped arrest. The Principal of the school was also arrested.

NAFDAC Destroys N810m Expired Products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Thursday, destroyed N810 million worth of expired products voluntarily handed over to it by some companies in compliance with its directives and regulations. The products, which were destroyed at the NAFDAC destruction site in Sagamu, Ogun State, included drugs, toiletries, chemicals, food items, fish and powder, among other manufactured products of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), May & Baker, Wizpha and other companies. According to Director General of NAFDAC, Paul Orhii, the essence of the exercise is to encourage manufacturers to always hand over their expired products to the agency.

GENERAL

Gunmen Kill 34 in Raid on Cattle Market

At least Thirty-four people were reportedly killed in Potiskum, Yobe State, during a siege on it cattle market by bandits. According to eyewitnesses, the attack started as an armed robbery, but the robbers were overpowered by the traders. One of the eyewitnesses, Musa Abdullahi, said the traders resisted and killed one of the robbers, while the others fled, only to return in the evening with explosives. They burned down all the buildings including cattle, cars and all standing structures in the market and shot randomly at everyone. In the process, he said, many persons were killed and injured, while the robbers had a field day and went away after the incident. Police Commissioner, Yobe State Command, Moses Onireti, confirmed the incident.

JTF Raids Bomb Factory in Kano, Kills Terror Suspect

The suspected mastermind of the attacks on churches during their services at the Bayero University Kano (BUK) was killed on Tuesday in a raid by the Joint military Task Force (JTF). The JTF launched an operation on a suspected bomb factory of Boko Haram members at Sharada in Kumbotso LGA of the State. The church attacks led to the death of about 35 persons. The Commander of 3rd Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Kano, Brigadier General Iliyasu Abbah, said items recovered at the house included 35 knives, 35 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), two laptops, and a bank teller for N150, 000. Others were five high explosives, one AK47, 485 rounds of 7.62 mm special, nine rounds of 5.56mm and seven SIM cards and modems. He urged members of the public to continue to cooperate with security operatives in order to rid the state of terrorists.

Herdsmen Kill Eight in Plateau Communities Attacks

Eight persons have been feared killed by assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, who invaded four villages in Riyom Local Council on Monday. The invaders allegedly shot their victims and burnt their houses simultaneously while the other villagers took to their heels. A former member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Danboyi Jugu, said a ward head in Sopp Village was killed with two other residents. Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Council Caretaker Committee, Emmanuel Loman, who confirmed the attack, said the Fulani struck after the soldiers had left their station.

Jonathan Urges Calm as Boko Haram Strikes Again

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has reassured Nigerians and foreigners that his administration was taking every necessary action to end the spate of terrorist atrocities in the country. This is as the Taraba State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mamman Sule, escaped death in a bomb blast that occurred on Monday, which left 11 persons dead and 15 others seriously injured, some metres away from the State House, Jalingo. Though the CP escaped unhurt, the police outrider driving ahead of him, Cpl Usman Mohammed, lost his limbs to the blast. The Acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, also assured that the police were not overwhelmed by the situation.

Gunmen Invade Borno Prison, Free Inmates

Gunmen, on Thursday, broke into the Kumshe prison in Bama LGA of Borno State, killed two warders there and flung the doors open for the inmates to escape. The gunmen had first attacked a police station in Banki, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon but were repelled by the police on duty. A source said following the failure of the gun men to overpower the police they relocated and swooped on Kumshe, about 40 kilometres away. On arrival at the prison, they began shooting, killing two wardens. The other warders fled leaving the gunmen free to open the prison gates for the inmates. Spokesman for the Police in the State, Samuel Tizhe, confirmed the incident. He said the Police have arrested 23 persons in connection with the attacks. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Police Defuse Bomb at BUK

The Anti-bomb Squad of the Kano State Police Command on Monday evening defused a bomb planted close to a mosque by the side of the Social Science Department at the New Site of the Bayero University, Kano (BUK). The bomb, which was found inside a polythene bag, had, according to the police, only 25 minutes left to explode when the specialist squad successfully defused it. An eyewitness said that the suspicious looking bag was first noticed at about 5.45 pm and following this development, security agencies were notified and they quickly rushed to the scene. State Police spokesman, Musa Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident.

Accident: FG Pledges Support for FRSC

The Federal Government has pledged more government’s support and commitment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in order to fast track road safety management and accident reduction by 50 per cent before 2015. This pledge however came on a day the Lagos State Sector Commander of the commission, Mr. Jonas Aguw, said violations like use of phone while driving, right-hand steering, overloading, driving one way and the refusal to use crash helmets are still issues with road users in Lagos. Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who disclosed this, said government was committed to revitalising the nation's road network.

Niger Frees 161 Fuel Subsidy Protesters

The Niger State government has granted amnesty to 161 people who allegedly participated in the January 6 violent protest in the state over the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, which left property worth N245 million destroyed. A total of 212 arrests were made by the police, including top politicians from opposition parties. Commissioner for Justice, Abdul Bawa Wuse, who was represented by the Solicitor-General of the state, Ndagi Wali, said the decision to grant amnesty to the protesters was taken at the state council meeting on Wednesday. However, he admitted that there was no foolproof evidence to tender against the suspects in court.

3 Killed At Wedding Party

Three people were shot dead while four others, including two soldiers, were wounded on Saturday when suspected Islamists opened fire at a wedding in the Maiduguri. The suspected Boko Haram sect members fired shots sporadically when they sensed that the wedding venue was under surveillance by troops of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), according to the spokesman of the JTF in Maiduguri, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa. Musa revealed that information at the disposal of the JTF indicated that two top Boko Haram terrorists on the wanted list of the Task Force sneaked into Maiduguri to attend a wedding of their member. The shooting led to the death of three civilians. Two soldiers sustained gunshot injuries while two of the suspected Islamists were arrested, he said. A vehicle used by the attackers, some arms and ammunition were recovered.

Gunmen Kill 5 in Taraba

Police say gunmen wearing military uniforms arrested and shot dead five people in Taraba state. Police spokesman, Ibiang Mbaseki, said on Saturday that the attack happened Friday night in a remote village. Mbaseki said witnesses told police the gunmen claimed to come from Abuja. The spokesman said the police had no information about a military operation in the area and would continue to investigate the killings.

Labour Demands Actions on Terrorism, Fraud, Unemployment

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have called on the Federal Government to stop the bombings and killings in the country. NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, and his TUC counterpart, Peter Esele, called on the FG to ensure the prosecution of those behind terrorism in the country. The labour leaders also demanded the immediate prosecutors of persons indicted in the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Management of the Fuel Subsidy. Omar and Esele spoke at the Workers’ Day rally in Abuja on Tuesday. Esele also called on the government to embark on urgent steps to address the problems of unemployment in the country. The labour leaders also called on the government to take proactive steps in the fight against corruption identified as the main cause of the crisis rocking the country.

SSS Operatives Arrest Suspected Supplier of Bomb Chemicals

Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) in Kano state have arrested a middle aged man, Ayuba Usman, suspected to be the chief supplier of chemicals used in making IEDs by Boko Haram members. State Director of the SSS, Mr Bassey Eteng, said, on Wednesday, that the suspect is believed to have links with some extremist elements in the state. According to him, the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday with 35 drums of chemicals and other materials which were highly inflammable in one of the markets in Dala LGA. He said the SSS operatives in the state would go deeper into the case in order to know their network with a view to tracking down their accomplices, adding that investigation would continue until the perpetrators were arrested and punished.

NAF Aircraft Crashes in Kaduna

Nigeria Air Force (NAF) F7-Ni single seat fighter jet, which was on a routine training exercise on Wednesday, crashed close to the Kaduna International Airport. This was confirmed by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas. Anas also revealed that Search and Rescue Team from the NAF 301 Flying Training School Kaduna immediately rescued the pilot who he confirmed was in a stable condition and currently receiving treatment at the NAF Aero Medical hospital. He said no fatality on the ground was reported, and a preliminary investigation into the crash has been ordered by the Chief of Air Staff to ascertain the cause of the accident.

INTERNATIONAL

Twelve Dead in Soldiers, Outlaws Clash in Mexico

A clash on Wednesday between soldiers and suspected criminals in northwest Mexico left 12 dead, including two soldiers. At least 22 others have been killed in recent and similar clashes in Sinaloa state, home to the eponymous drug cartel. In the latest clash, men armed with grenades and high calibre weapons attacked several military patrol vehicles in the Guasave municipality. The clash occurred in the Estacion Bamoa community and the outlaws briefly took shelter in a local hotel before it was taken over by soldiers. Soldiers seized one vehicle, burned another and also seized weapons including a Barrett rifle which can penetrate armoured vehicles. Officials said 20 outlaws, one soldier and one police officer had been killed.

Syrian Students 'Killed at Aleppo Protest

At least four people have been killed as security forces and militiamen raided student accommodation in Syria's second city, Aleppo, activists say. Live ammunition was reportedly used to disperse an anti-government protest outside dormitories adjacent to Aleppo University's campus on Wednesday. As many as 200 students are thought to have been arrested during the raid. There was panic and chaos as security forces personnel and members of the Shabiha militia fired live rounds and tear gas to disperse a protest by about 1,500 people outside their dormitories. The overnight crackdown in Aleppo was launched despite the Syrian government saying it was abiding by the terms of the peace plan negotiated by the UN and Arab League envoy, Kofi Annan.

UN, AU Warn against Harassment of Journalists

The United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) have expressed outrage over the harassment, killing of journalists and the stifling of free speech in some parts of the world. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, at a special World Press Freedom Day event at the UN headquarters, on Thursday, said that journalists now face “dire threats” and highlighted that more than 60 were killed in 2011. The Reporters Without Borders group said the number of journalist deaths had increased in 2012. It said in a World Press Freedom Day report that 21 journalists and six bloggers and “citizen journalists” had been killed since the start of the year.

AQIM Offers to Free Hostage in Exchange for Arrested Cleric

A terrorist group has offered to free a hostage if Britain deports cleric Abu Qatada to a country other than Jordan. According to reports from an Islamist website, the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) had made the offer regarding hostage Stephen Malcolm on Monday. It also said Abu Qatada must be deported to an "Arab Spring" country. It claimed Malcolm, who was seized in Mali in November, had dual British and South African nationality. The group said Britain would otherwise "bear the consequences of handing Abu Qatada to the Jordanian government". Abu Qatada, 51, faces charges in Jordan of plotting bomb attacks. Britain is currently prevented from deporting him to Jordan while the European Court of Human Rights considers his case

Deadly Blasts Rock Syrian City

A number of people have been killed in blasts in the north-western Syrian city of Idlib, activists say. Reports said two suicide bombings had killed eight people, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 20 had died in attacks targeting the security forces. The UN is currently deploying monitors to the country to oversee a fragile peace plan. The Observatory said the Idlib bombs had exploded next to the Air Force Intelligence headquarters and the Military Intelligence building, with most of the casualties being security personnel. The Observatory also said there had been a powerful blast near the capital, Damascus, causing casualties.

68 Killed as Overloaded Ferry Capsizes in India

Rescue workers fought heavy wind and rain to search for survivors after about 68 people drowned when an overloaded ferry carrying 300 people sunk in one of India's largest rivers on Monday night. About 100 people were rescued and at least 150 were still missing, said Jayanta Narayan Choudhury, police chief of the state of Assam. People were sitting on the roof of the ferry carrying mainly local farmers and their families when it tipped over in a storm on the Brahmaputra River. Eyewitnesses told police the vessel was old and broke in two after capsizing in the swollen river. Smaller boats often get into trouble on the river, but the ferry was the largest to sink in recent years.

Syria Violence Kills 23, UN Criticises Both Sides

Violence hit two Syrian provinces on Tuesday with a rights group reporting 10 civilians dead in an army mortar attack and 12 soldiers killed by rebel gunmen. The United Nations accused both sides of breaching the truce and said it had credible reports that at least 34 children had been killed since the accord took effect in April. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the 13-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, said nine members of one family died in mortar bomb blasts. In the eastern province of Deir al-Zor, troops hit back with mortar and heavy machinegun fire after losing a dozen of their own to insurgents, killing at least one villager and destroying a school, reports say. The United Nations says Syrian security forces have killed more than 9,000 people since the uprising began in March 2011.

Heavy Gunfire in Bamako

Heavy gunfire continued in Bamako, Mali’s capital on Tuesday in a second day of fighting between forces of the ruling junta and soldiers believed to be loyal to ousted President Amadou Toumani Toure. The military junta said the fighting, which broke out late on Monday, was an attempt to reverse a March 22 coup that ousted Toure, adding that there was evidence that foreign fighters were backing the effort. The coup, which derailed April elections meant to replace Toure and which came in the midst of a rebellion in Mali’s desert north, has been internationally condemned, and West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, has said it plans to deploy a force to oversee a transition back to democratic rule. Junta chief, Captain Amadou Sanogo, said the fighting broke out after he had sent some units to the presidential guard barracks to tell them that Malian forces should remain united.

Blasts Shake Somalia

At least eight people, including two lawmakers, were killed in bomb attacks in Somalia. A suicide bomber killed about six people in an attack in the central Somali town of Dhusamareb as lawmakers met with the public, while a car bomb in the anarchic capital, Mogadishu, killed two. The attacks came shortly after the United Nations, African Union and East Africa’s main diplomatic body, IGAD, warned in a rare joint statement that efforts at establishing peace in Somalia were at risk.

Uganda Accuses Sudan of Backing LRA

The Ugandan army has accused Sudanese government of supporting and supplying the weapon to Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony, after a member of the group was captured wearing a Sudanese uniform and carrying its weapons and ammunition. Ugandan army spokesman, Col Felix Kulayigye, also asserted that the army has information that the LRA was now moving into Sudan. The LRA is accused of rape, mutilation, murder and the recruitment of child soldiers and the United States has sent Special Forces to help in the hunt for its leader.

HRW Accuses Tuareg Rebels, others of War Crimes in Mali

A rights group, Human Rights Watch (HRW), has alleged that Tuareg rebels, militias and Islamist groups are committing war crimes, including summary executions and rapes, in Mali’s lawless north. According to the HRW, government troops in the north, controlled by Tuareg separatists, Arab militias and armed Islamists, are also flouting rights. It said HRW had got “credible information that Malian army soldiers have arbitrarily detained and, in some instances, summarily executed ethnic Tuareg members and civilians. Much of the north remains in the hands of two armed groups – Islamists Ansar Dine and the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), Mali’s main Tuareg rebel group.

ECOWAS Imposes Sanctions on Guinea-Bissau Junta

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reportedly imposed sanctions on Guinea-Bissau’s military junta after talks to restore civilian rule broke down. The country has seen many coups since independence from Portugal in 1974. But the deployment of regional peacekeeping troops due to start on Sunday, has been delayed. ECOWAS’ mediators said the junta rejected key demands –including that elections be held within 12 months, according to reports. The military leaders, who took power on April 12 between the two rounds of a presidential election, had previously said polls to return the country to constitutional rule would take place within two years.

Renegade General Takes over DR Congo Towns

Soldiers loyal to Bosco Ntaganda, an Army General wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), have taken two towns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Hundreds of heavily armed soldiers loyal to Ntaganda recently defected from the Congolese army. Known locally as the Terminator, Ntaganda has denied the ICC accusation that he recruited child soldiers.

Kenya Issues Al-Shabaab’s Warning

Authorities in Kenya have warned of a looming terror attack from Al-Shabaab fighters in the country’s northeastern region. The warning came as a grenade attack went off onTuesday at a church in Nairobi. Nairobi deputy regional police chief, Moses Ombati and Director of Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Ndegwa Muhoro, said the assailant had gone to the God’s House of Miracles International Church pretending to be a worshiper when he lobbed a grenade at other worshipers. The deputy police chief said investigations have been launched to establish the motive behind the grenade attacks, the third incident to hit Nairobi this year.

Al Bashir Declares Emergency at Borders with South Sudan

President Omar al- Bashir of Sudan has declared a state of emergency at a number of localities in states bordering South Sudan. Sudan earlier said it was intending to declare the state of emergency on the borderline with South Sudan. Meanwhile, Mechem, a South African demining company, on Tuesday, declared that two of its workers were abducted by the Sudanese military while on a United Nations (UN) landmine clearance contract in South Sudan. The Chief Executive Officer of state-owned, Mechem, Ashley Williams, said its employees, a South African and a local South Sudanese, were seized along with a British UN employee and a Norwegian.

11 Egyptians Killed in Fresh Clashes over Military Rule

11 people were killed and more than 160 wounded near Egypt’s Defence Ministry on Thursday after armed men assaulted protesters demanding an end to army rule. Following the killing, two Islamist candidates have suspended their presidential election campaigns. The report claimed that unidentified “thugs” armed with guns or batons attacked demonstrators who included hundreds of ultraconservative Salafi Islamists protesting the exclusion of their candidate from this month’s vote. Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood, which topped that polls, said it would boycott a meeting the army had called with political party leaders to defuse a crisis between the Islamist-dominated parliament and the army-backed interim government.

Libya Grants Immunity to Ex-Rebels

The National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya have granted immunity to former rebels who fought to oust Muammar Gaddafi’s regime and has criminalised any glorification of the former leader, in laws passed on Thursday. The immunity covers “military, security or civilian acts undertaken by revolutionaries with the aim of ensuring the revolution’s success and its goal,” the NTC added. Rights groups said war crimes were committed by both sides during the 2011 conflict and warn of torture in detention centres run by militias made up of former rebels. In further legislation to govern the country’s transition, the NTC criminalised the glorification of Gaddafi or his regime. The tough legislation comes just weeks before elections for a constituent assembly which the NTC has pledged to hold in June.

UN Threatens to Sanction Sudan, South Sudan

In support of African Union’s (AU) request, the United Nations (UN) Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution that threatens Sudan and South Sudan with sanctions if the African neighbours fail to halt an escalating conflict and resume negotiations on their disputes within two weeks. The resolution follows weeks of border fighting that have raised fears Sudan and South Sudan could launch an all-out war after failing to resolve a string of disputes over oil revenues and border demarcation. Meanwhile, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has expressed concern over the impact of border fighting in South Sudan, saying it threatens livelihoods.

Hackers Knock Off British Crime-Fighting Agency’s Website

The website of Britain’s Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has been taken offline after an attack by hackers, according to reports on Thursday. It is the second time in a year that the website has fallen victim to hackers. The spokesman said the website would be back up “in due course”. The website was taken down in June last year after it was hit during a month-long rampage against sites that also included the CIA by the hacker group known as Lulz Security or LulzSec. SOCA is a national police unit responsible for investigating organised crime.

EU Sanctions Guinea-Bissau’s Coup Leaders

The European Union, Thursday, froze assets and imposed travel ban on six coup leaders in Guinea-Bissau. EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, reiterated that the bloc strongly condemned the April 12 coup “and demands that constitutional order be immediately restored.” The EU sanctions came as West African leaders met in Dakar for a fresh summit on Mali and Guinea-Bissau, both rocked by recent coups. The ECOWAS talks are aimed at “synchronising the regional response” to the political crises in the two nations, it said in a statement Wednesday night. In Guinea-Bissau, plans for a return to constitutional rule are clouded in ambiguity as the junta prevaricates. Army chief Antonio Indjai led the coup, aborting an election process in the country.

UN Laments Increase on Terrorist’ Kidnappings for Ransom

The UN Security Council has warned of the "changing nature and character" of international terrorism, with terror groups increasingly coordinating with organised crime and resorting to kidnapping for ransom to finance their activities. The council also expressed concern on Friday about the growing use of the internet and new communications technologies to recruit, incite, finance and prepare terrorist activities.  US Ambassador, Susan Rice, said al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has expanded its reach in Yemen and is looking to launch attacks abroad, while al-Shabab militants in Somalia continue to destabilise the Horn of Africa and militants from the radical Islamist sect Boko Haram perpetrate widespread attacks in Nigeria including against UN personnel.