Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 42

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Aluu 4: Police Arrest Monarch, Others

Moved by the bestial and barbaric manner in which four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) were hacked to death by some natives recently, men of the Rivers State Police Command, embarked on a mass arrest of people in Omuokiri Community, Aluu, where the killing took place. It was gathered that among those arrested was the traditional ruler of Omuokiri village of Aluu, Alhaji Hassan Welewa. The arrests came just as the Rivers State Government and other stakeholders have expressed outrage over the mindless killing. The four male undergraduate students were killed, penultimate Friday by a mob for alleged armed robbery. Another version had it that the students were cult members who had gone on a failed ‘hit.’

20 Suspects Arrested over Assassination of Enugu Monarch

The police in Enugu state have arrested 20 suspects in connection with the murder of the traditional ruler of Umuode Community in Nkanu East LGA, Igwe Moses Ugwu, even as tension has gripped Umuode and Oruku communities. Ugwu was reportedly shot dead by two young men who stormed his shop at Akpoga Nike on Tuesday. The gunmen were said to have shot at him several times and left him in a pool of his own blood, and escaped immediately without removing anything from the shop. Igwe Ugwu’s Umuode community had been at war with their Oruku neighbours since the past eight years. The two communities engaged in random shooting of guns recently apparently to signal another round of hostility but security operatives deployed to the area later calmed the tension.

Floods Submerge More Communities in Niger Delta

Whole communities in parts of the Niger Delta region have been swallowed as the surging floods spread from tributaries of the River Niger into the communities, killing many. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are being housed in different camps following the massive flooding caused by the overflowing of the River Niger. Heavy rains have triggered massive flooding in parts of Omoku community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni council of Rivers State. Governor Chibuike Amaechi described the deluge as a monumental national disaster adding that government must act swiftly. The Unrelenting floods have also sacked many communities in Ndokwa and Patani with many of the people complaining that relief materials were yet to reach them. Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised travellers on the flood-ravaged East-West road to take advantage of alternative routes until the situation is brought under control.

UNIPORT Protests over Students’ Killings

Students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Tuesday, protested the killing of four of students in Aluu community, penultimate Friday. The protest forced the university authorities to order the closure of the institution indefinitely with a directive for students to vacate their hostels. Also, 11 out of the 13 suspects arrested at Omuokiri Village of Aluu Community in connection with the murder were arraigned on Tuesday before the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt. The students, under the auspices of the South-south and South-east zones of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), had barricaded the busy East-West Road, carrying placards, which blamed the Federal Government for not putting adequate facilities in the institution, a situation they said, led to the murder of the students. The protest caused a massive traffic gridlock on the road, which leads to other South-south states.

Man Jumps to Death from 8th Floor of Federal Secretariat

A middle-aged man, identified as Goodluck Amehule, allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the eighth floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt. Though no one could ascertain what prompted Amehule to his action, an eyewitness, Florence Harry, said the deceased removed his shoes, jumped off and died instantly. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ben Ugwuegbulam, confirmed the death but cautioned against hasty conclusions when it was not certain about what really happened.  The corpse had been deposited at the Military Hospital, Port Harcourt.

PHCN Shuts 60 Transformers in Bayelsa

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria has shut 60 transformers in Bayelsa State following the rise in flooding in the state. The state governor, Seriake Dickson, had on Thursday ordered schools in the state shut because of flooding. Officials of the company, who toured most of the flooded communities on Wednesday, were said to have taken the decision to prevent electrocution. The PHCN Business Manager in the state, Mr. Godwin Orovwiroro, said Yenagoa, might soon be thrown into darkness if the water level continued to rise, as the company would be compelled to close the main power station at Gbarantoru which supplies electricity to Yenagoa.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Police Arrest Notorious Terrorist in Delta State

The Police at Zone 5 Area Command, Benin City, on Wednesday, arrested a notorious land speculator, Maxwell Okonkwo Ezechie. Ezechie is alleged to be terrorizing genuine land owners in Delta State and its environs. Also arrested with the suspect said to be a dismissed police corporal, is the son of a serving police officer, Augustine Igbinoba who was described as the suspect’s chief executioner and two others. Police sources said the main suspect, Ezechie, was arrested after the Inspector- General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, directed that he should be fished out following report of his terrorist activities in the area. The management of a media company had petitioned the IGP, alleging that Ezechie and his thugs invaded their building site at Akwukwu-Igbo, Okpanam, Delta State, and unleashed mayhem on their workers.

Flood Claims 3 in Delta

At least three persons have lost their lives to flooding in parts of Isoko North LGA in Delta State. It was gathered that two of them were peasant farmers at Oyede community, while the third person was at Irri. An eyewitness said they had gone to harvest cassava, but their canoe capsized while they were returning from farm. Their bodies were recovered and buried on Thursday.  The man in Irri, simply identified as Awee Itimi, died on his farmland. He was said to have collapsed and died, ostensibly for the loss of his produce to flooding. Meanwhile, corpses deposited at the Aluta Memorial Clinic’s mortuary were evacuated on Thursday following the upsurge of flood in the community. The corpses were laid on the Amawa Layout road, where vehicles were moving them to unknown hospitals.

Delta Decries FG’s N500m for Flood Relief

Members of Delta State House of Assembly has described the state’s share of N500 million from the Federal Government’s N17.6 billion assistance to flooded states as meagre, noting that the money was not sufficient in view of the challenges at hand. They maintained that Delta State was heavily impacted because it was at the mercy of River Niger and River Benue. The legislators said it could have been appropriate for Mr. President to declare a state of emergency over the flood issue. In another development, six children have been reportedly drowned, while corpses from mortuaries submerged by flood are now floating on water in the state. Delta State government, however, assured the 3,000 flood victims evacuated from Patani and Ughelli North LGAs of adequate provision of food, healthcare facility and security at government designated camps.

Oshiomhole Fires 20 Teachers for Absenteeism

Twenty teachers in three schools, who were absent from their duty posts, when Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, paid unscheduled visit to the schools in the state, Tuesday, have been dismissed. Oshiomhole, who disclosed this, also ordered deductions from the salaries of some teachers who got to their schools after the 8am resumption time. The governor frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of some teachers to work, noting that “the state government had provided suitable environment in the schools.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Police Recover Bodies of Slain NNPC Engineers

A police special task force, last weekend, recovered the bullet-ridden bodies of three missing Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) engineers who were slain by oil pipeline vandals in Arepo Village in Ogun State. The slain NNPC officials were identified as a Deputy Manager in charge of Pipelines Right of Way (PROW) and two other engineers deployed to effect repairs on a vandalised pipeline in Arepo on September 5. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Friday Ibadin, officers using speedboats and helicopters to comb the creeks near Arepo dug up the bodies in two shallow graves across a river. The NNPC authorities have blamed the ongoing fuel shortage in some parts of the country on the shutdown of the damaged System 2B Pipeline at Arepo, which carries one third of the nation’s daily fuel needs.

130-Member Robbery Gang Arrested in Lagos

Police in Lagos State have arrested about 130 members of a notorious robbery gang, codenamed “1 million Boys.”  Two drivers of two new generation banks and eight other members of the robbery gang had also been arrested by the police. Members of the gang had, in recent times, been terrorising residents of Ajegunle, Boundary, Orile and Apapa, where many people were killed and several women raped. Eight machetes, two double-barrel short guns, a cut-to-size short gun, a pistol, a toy gun and a bayonette were recovered from the arrested members of the gang. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, while speaking on the arrest, said it was sequel to incessant reports of attacks by the gang.

Robbers Kill 3 Policemen in Lagos

Three policemen were, on Monday, killed, while three others were injured by robbers in Lagos. Two of the slain policemen were, until the incident, attached to New Oko Oba divisional police station and were on a routine patrol, while the third officer, a corporal, was attached to Oke Odo division. The robbers also reportedly escaped with rifles of the deceased policemen in an incident that threw residents of the Lagos community into panic. The policemen were on patrol when they ran into the robbers who opened fire on them and riddled the patrol van with bullets.

Kidnappers Demand N200m to Release Abducted Speaker’s Wife

Kidnappers of Muiba, wife to the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Najeem Salaam, have demanded N200m ransom for her release. It was learnt that the hoodlums assured him that his wife would be released as soon as the money was paid. A six-man armed gang trailed Muiba, from her shop in Olota’s compound to the Speaker’s residence in Oke Oyo area, where she was abducted as she made to enter her compound. The state House of Assembly has described the kidnap as “strange, barbaric and criminal”.

Undergraduate Gets 18 Months Imprisonment over N1.4m Fraud

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja, on Thursday, sentenced an undergraduate, Michael Opaleye, to 18 months’ imprisonment for swindling an American lady, Kathy Lunsford, of $9,200 (N1.4 million). It was reported that Justice Aishat Opesanwo sentenced the 28-year-old student after he pleaded guilty to the charge. Opaleye, who claimed to be a student of computer science at the University of Lagos, had entered into a plea bargain deal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In another development, the manager of YTK Filling Station in Lagos, Isiaka Ajibola, was on Thursday arraigned before an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court, charged with stealing N300,000 belonging to his employers. Ajibola, 28, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Ajibola allegedly stole the money given to be deposited in the bank, and then altered the teller.

Woman Commits Suicide in Osun

A 27-year-old woman, Mrs Shekinat Abdurazaq, in Ede town in Ede North LGA of Osun State, on Wednesday, took her own life by jumping into the River Osun.  The deceased, gave birth to a set of twins 11 days before. According to an eyewitness, the deceased had taken one of her children to school and, on her way back, jumped into River Osun. It was gathered that she offered prayers on the bridge before jumping into the river. Efforts by beggars, who beg for alms on the bridge to rescue her, proved abortive. It was further learnt that when her husband, who was informed of the incident, got to the bank of the river, he also attempted to jump into the river but was prevented by the people around who later alerted the police. He was subsequently arrested and detained. No reason was advanced for the deceased’s action.

Police Nab Kidnappers in Ikorodu

Four members of a seven-man kidnapping gang that operated in Ikorodu and neighbouring communities, and kidnapped and killed a businessman, have been arrested by the police. The arrested suspects had, in September, kidnapped and killed a business man identified as Akinsanya Johnson Akinlade. They were arrested during an attempt to collect three million naira ransom from the family, after the man had been butchered. The police in the state were also on the trail of the runaway members of the gang, especially the leader, Sodiq alias "No face”, who was accused of killing Akinlade. The spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, confirmed Akinlade's death and added that the police were on the trail of other members of the gang.

Tanker Drivers Barricade Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Tanker drivers on Thursday barricaded the Lagos–Ibadan Express road, prompting commuters and motorists to be stranded for about 13 hours. It was gathered that, the trouble started in Ogere–Remo when a team of police escorts allegedly shot the tyres of a trailer laden with petrol on Wednesday night. The incident later reportedly led to the heavy traffic jam following the alleged damage of three tyres of the trailer. In retaliation, other trailers plying the road allegedly blocked the other side of the express road which caused another serious traffic jam. A Deputy Commissioner of Police from Eleweran in Abeokuta, Mohammed Abdulkadir later engaged the trailer drivers in negotiations before they agreed to vacate the road. It was gathered that the police authority agreed to pay the N250, 000 cost of replacing the damaged tyres to pacify the protesting trailer drivers.

Train Crushes Seven-Year-Old in Osogbo

A seven- year-old boy, identified as Wale, was penultimate Sunday, crushed to death while playing on the rail line at the Ayekale area of Osogbo, Osun State. The sad incident reportedly occurred shortly before the end of service at a Pentecostal church where the boy had gone with his parents to worship. It was gathered that Wale was among some children who left the church premises to catch a glimpse of the approaching train. He failed to run away from the path of the approaching train in good enough time as others did. However, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said it was not aware of the accident as it had not been reported at its office.

Police Recover Corpse of Kidnapped Lebanese

The decomposing corpse of a kidnapped expatriate employee of JMS Construction firm was, on Tuesday morning, discovered in a bush between Omuawa and Ubima in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers State. The construction worker was abducted about four weeks ago while at work on a site on Azuaha Road. According to community sources, the body of the Lebanese was discovered by women who were searching for edible leaves in the bush where his corpse was dumped. The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ben Ugwuegbulam, confirmed the development, adding that the command had commenced investigation into the matter.

Two Arraigned over Illegal Possession of Voter’s Cards

Two persons, a security man in the employment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Omolade Raphael and a politician, Olaolu Oladapo, were arraigned before an Akure Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly being in unlawful possession of voter’s cards. The two men who were brought to the court by heavily-armed policemen, were arrested at Ondo, Ondo West Local Council and accused of conspiracy and illegal possession of over one thousand voter’s cards. The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and their counsel, Kayode Ikotun, applied for bail for them on liberal terms.

Gunmen Attack PDP Supporters in Ogun

Armed thugs, on Monday, invaded the People’s Democratic Party secretariat in Abeokuta, Ogun State and sacked party faithful who had gathered to protest against alleged seizure of the premises by a faction loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. This came as the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Adebayo Dayo, alleged threat to his life by unknown persons on Monday. The protesting PDP members stormed the secretariat as early as 7.30am carrying placards. The protesters were however stopped from entering the secretariat when about 10 suspected hoodlums carrying pump action and double barrel guns, threatened to shoot them if they attempted to enter the premises.

GENERAL

New Service Chiefs Tasked on Piracy, Oil Theft

President Goodluck Jonathan has charged the new service chiefs to end piracy, oil theft and flush out criminals that have besieged the maritime sector within a short time to justify their appointments. The new military chiefs had assumed duties on Monday after change of guards were successfully carried out at the Defence, Naval and Air Force Headquarters apart from the Army headquarters where the Service Chief, Lt-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, retained his position. They were also duly promoted and decorated with their new ranks by Jonathan. The new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim, was elevated from the rank of Vice Admiral, while Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba promoted from the rank of Read Admiral and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Alex Badeh.

FG Will Not Appeal ICJ Ruling on Bakassi

The Federal Government has declined the call by some Nigerians to appeal the 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which caused Nigeria to cede the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. The presidency cited various legal and ethical constraints even as it pledged to cooperate with the Cameroonian government to protect the people in the affected territory. The government’s position emerged in a statement on Monday night by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke.

JTF Kills Boko Haram Commander, 30 Others in Yobe

The Joint Task Force on security in Yobe State, in a raid last weekend, killed 30 suspected Boko Haram members, including their field commander, Bakaka. The JTF’s spokesman, Lt. Eli Lazarus, said 10 others members of the group were arrested after a fierce gun battle in Kandahar and Cemetery areas of Damaturu. Six rifles, 90 rounds of ammunition, several handsets and SIM packs, knives, bows and arrows, diggers, two tricycles and three cans of IEDs, were among items recovered. Also, the police in Minna, Niger State, penultimate Sunday, uncovered a bomb manufacturing factory suspected to belong to the sect in the Maitunmbi area of the town. The police team which raided the factory at 8.30pm said they acted on the confessional statement made by one of the five suspects arrested in respect of the killing of three policemen in two operations in the town last week.

Driver in Court for Reckless Driving, Killing of Woman

For allegedly knocking down and killing a pedestrian while driving at break-neck speed in the convoy of his principal, the personal driver of Senator Robert Ajayi Borroffice, Michael Agunloye, has been  docked before an Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court for the murder of one Mrs. Florence Aduni Olusori. Agunloye was accused by the Police of driving dangerously and in the process killed the 52-year-old nurse. The family of the late Olusori is also unhappy that neither the Senator nor any delegation from him had visited the family since the incident took place in August. Agunloye, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge while his counsel, Michael Adeyemi applied for his bail on liberal terms on the grounds that the offence qualified for bail.

Eight Arrested over Killing of Policemen in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has confirmed that eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the Tuesday killing of two policemen, while three AK 47 machine guns were also recovered from the uncompleted building where the suspects were apprehended. The state police commissioner, Ibrahim Idris, said items recovered were three AK -47 guns, with two of the machine guns belonging to the policemen killed by the suspects. The third weapon is believed to have been used by the gunmen in carrying out their attack on the security operatives. He said the suspects were arrested at an uncompleted building at Kofar Dawanau quarters of Kano, adding that the innocent ones among them would be released after questioning.

More Killings in Barkin Ladi

There was mounting tension in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Thursday following the alleged killing of 17 persons earlier in the week at a village in Barkin Ladi LGA. The tension in the town increased on Thursday as unidentified gunmen allegedly killed another man and injured four others. Our correspondent learnt that some Fulani herdsmen, irked by the killing of one of their village heads, had embarked on reprisal on neighbouring Berom communities. No fewer than 17 persons were said to have been killed by Wednesday morning after the gunmen stormed three villages in the Riyom LGA. It was learnt that prompt intervention of men of the Special Task Force and appeal from elders in the affected communities prevented the situation from escalating.

Woman, 58, Declared Missing in Abuja

The family of a 58-year-old woman, Mrs. Gladys Nwosa, have announced her sudden disappearance and called on anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward. Nwosa has already been declared missing in the FCT as her whereabouts are yet to be ascertained, two weeks after she failed to return home from her business premises since September 27. Florence Nwosah, daughter of the missing woman, called for the co-operation of the public in helping to locate their mother. She also said her mother, who speaks Delta Igbo, Yoruba and English Languages fluently, has easy going and friendly personality.

HRW Accuses Boko Haram, JTF Crimes against Humanity

Extensive and methodical murder and persecution by Boko Haram will likely amount to crimes against humanity, US-based Human Rights Watch said in a report released Thursday. According to it, government security forces have also engaged in numerous abuses, including extra-judicial killings, Human Rights Watch said. The report catalogues atrocities for which Boko Haram has claimed responsibility.  It also explores alleged abuses by the Joint Task Force (JTF), which he said contravened international human rights law and might also constitute crimes against humanity. The group estimates that the violence, which first erupted in 2009, has claimed more than 2,800 lives. Daniel Bekele, Africa Director at Human Rights Watch called on the government to swiftly bring to justice the Boko Haram members and security agents “who have committed these serious crimes.”

Court Awards Journalist N100m Damages against Police

An Abuja High Court has awarded N100 million as damages in favour of a journalist, Desmond Utonwen, who was on December 11, 2009, brutalised by men of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF. The court which was presided over by Justice U. P. Kekemeke, maintained that the attack, the beating to unconsciousness, bundling into Police vehicle and detention of the applicant for many hours without access to medical treatment, was inhuman and degrading and thus amounted to a violation of his right. Utonwen had gone before the court to enforce his fundamental human right, after he was severely beaten by policemen when he attempted to cover a protest that broke out at Garki Area 3, Abuja, in 2009.

Dangote, Adenuga Head Flood Relief Committee

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday, announced the provision of N17.6 billion in immediate direct financial assistance to states affected by flood in the country as well as some Federal Government agencies responsible for disaster management. The president noted that the states will receive a total of N13.3 billion while the federal agencies will receive N4.3 billion. This was contained in a nationwide broadcast he delivered where he also disclosed the decision of government to set up a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to mobilise funds in support of government’s effort to provide urgent relief for victims. The 34-man Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation is to be co-chaired by billionaire Aliko Dangote and renowned activist Olisa Agbakoba.

Reps Summon IGP over Mubi, Aluu Killings

The House of Representatives has invited the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, over the recent gruesome attack on students of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State and the killing of four students of the University of Port Harcourt. Following a motion moved by Abubakar Wamba, the Lower House questioned the perceived late response of the police and other security agencies in the two incidents, the Mubi incident claiming 40 lives. Lawmakers observed a minute silence for the slain students. In separate contributions, lawmakers, Aliyu Sani Madaki, Jerry Manwe and Samson Osagie called on security agencies to launch deeper investigation in the matter and fish out the perpetrators.

Two to Die by Firing Squad for Armed Robbery

Justice Theresa Igoche of the Makurdi High Court, on Tuesday sentenced two students, Vershima Kaachi and Akaazua Akpen, to death by firing squad for armed robbery. The convicts were arrested on the eve of Christmas in 2007 for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery. In his testimony, the victim of the offence, Jonathan Usenge, told the court that five armed men came to his house, attacked and robbed him of some valuable items on that day. He said the convicts were armed with guns and a hacksaw, and that the clothes they wore on the day of the robbery, his stolen phone and the hacksaw were recovered from them during police investigation.

Policeman Trigger Happy Cop Kills Teacher at Bar

A trigger-happy police man attached to the residence of an Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, penultimate Thursday, shot two persons who went to a palm-wine drinking joint to unwind. While one of the victims, a classroom teacher, Mr Luka Baren, later died from the injuries he sustained, the other. Pius Musaje is said to be receiving treatment. Trouble started when some minstrels got to the table where the police orderly sat and started singing. Irritated, he ordered them to leave, but they continued singing. The officer then raised his rifle and shot a bullet into the air. Many people immediately took to their heels, but Pius and Luka sat put and continued drinking. The officer suddenly fired a shot at them. The trigger happy cop is said to have been arrested.

Gunmen Kill 14 in Jos

At least 14 people were reportedly killed while a four-year-old child was forcefully taken away by gunmen in three separate incidents in Riyom LGA of the Plateau State. Mark Lipdo, coordinator of Stefanus Foundation, a Jos-based non-governmental organisation, who confirmed the killings, said three people were killed in Tahos village, eight people in Kwakuri village and three people were also killed in Lo-Ton village of Jol Ward. According to him, the killings were carried out by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias in the area. He added that a four-year-old child was still missing as his parents could not trace his whereabouts. The Plateau State police command also confirmed the killings, but differed on the death toll, saying six people were killed in two separate attacks in Riyom LGA.

Education, Defence, Police get Lion’s Share in 2013 Budget

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, presented a N4.9tn budget to the National Assembly for the 2013 fiscal year. In the estimates, Education, Defence and Police were allocated the highest share of N1.095trn. A breakdown of the N1.095trn shows the Education sector getting N426.53bn;  Defence, N348.91bn, and  Police, N319.65bn. Missing copiously from the budget was a provision for fuel subsidy, an indication perhaps that government may fully remove the subsidy in 2013. Concerns have been raised by economic analysts over the high oil output assumption in the budget. Experts applauded the reduction of deficit financing of the budget from 2.85 per cent to 2.17 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and recurrent spending from 71.4 per cent to 68.7 per cent of total budgetary spending, but said there has not been visible investment that would support that.

NAFDAC Gives Firms get Deadline on Anti-Faking Devices

The Federal Ministry of Health has set January 2, 2013, and March 1, 2013 deadline for manufacturers, importers and marketers to implement the anti-faking device, Mobile Authentication Service (MAS)/Short Message Services (SMS), on their products. The National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said the measure was to safeguard the lives of Nigerians from the menace of fake and sub-standard drugs, which include organ damage, treatment failure, rise in drug resistant diseases, among others. Meanwhile, NAFDAC has sealed a pharmaceutical distribution outlet in Lagos and arrested its manager for stocking, selling and dispensing fake, banned and expired drugs.

4,000 Nigerians Languish in Turkey Prisons

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, has disclosed that no fewer than 4,000 Nigerians are in Turkey prisons over drug related and human trafficking cases. The IGP, who just returned from an official visit to Turkey, noted that both countries would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU. He, however, expressed dismay at the number of Nigerians in Turkey prisons. The IGP also vowed to fish out killers of the four students of University of Port Harcourt and those at Mubi, in Adamawa State. He said that investigations into the circumstances that led to the gruesome killings of the four University of Port Harcourt students and those at Mubi, Adamawa State, had commenced.

Niger Set for Oil Exploration at Bida Basin

The Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has taken a bold step towards the exploration of oil and gas in Bida Basin. A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant, Oil and Gas Development to the Governor, Habib Panti, said the Niger State government was in the process of acquiring oil blocks at Bida Basin, adding that the government has already applied for an approval to establish a refinery. According to the statement, Aliyu has inaugurated a high-powered committee comprising commissioners and respectable professionals to look into the feasibility of the project.

SSS Parades Nabs Man for Impersonation

The FCT Command of the State Security Service (SSS), on Tuesday, paraded a former staff of the FCT education department, Mohammed Ayuba, for alleged impersonation and defrauding of three persons of N156, 000. The suspect posed as an SSS officer to one David Barde and promised to secure employment into the service for three of Barde’s relations. He thereafter requested for N53000 from each prospective candidate, which was paid to him. Deputy Director, Operations, Ibrahim Halilu, said Ayuba was arrested while trying to collect additional money for other candidates he promised employment with the service. The suspect in an interview admitted that he defrauded Barde, adding that he did it because he has no means of livelihood.

EFCC Arrests 4 in Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, swooped on the violators of the Money Laundering Act with the arrest of the Managing Director of NICON Properties, Mr. Yahaya Atai Odoma, and the accountant of the company, Mr. Rufai S. Bidu. A statement by the commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said two others were arrested during the special operation. Section 5 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 requires existing DNFIs to submit to the Ministry of Commerce, within three months from the commencement of the Act, a declaration of their activities and all record of transactions in chronological order, indicating each customer’s surname, forenames and address.

Police Nab Alleged Masterminds of Mubi Killings

Following Police investigations into the killing of about 46 students of Federal Polytechnic Mubi in Adamawa State, it has been revealed that the killings were perpetrated by an Islamic sect and that masterminds of the gruesome massacre were three students of the polytechnic and one student of the Adamawa State University, Yola. Police sources in Abuja disclosed that 30 suspects had so far been arrested in connection with the massacre and among them are 12 confirmed members of Boko Haram and the four students who have also been confirmed to be members of the dreaded Islamic sect. It was also discovered that all the 46 students massacred were either the new leadership of the Students Union Government or those that voted to elect the new leadership of the union.

Reps Okay $80 Per Barrel Crude Oil Benchmark in 2013 Budget

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, adopted $80 per barrel of crude oil as its benchmark for the 2013 budget proposal, five dollars higher than what was proposed by the Presidency. This was part of the recommendations of the lower house on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework   (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP). The recommendation was contained in the report of the House’s Joint Committees on Finance, Legislative Budget and Research, National Planning and Economic Development and Aids, Loans and Debt Management on the MTEF. The House also approved the crude production targets of N2.5 million, N2.6 million and N2.6 million barrels per day for 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Over 620,000 Displaced by Kogi Floods

The Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said the number of displaced persons in the state had risen to 623,690. SEMA, in its latest report, said property estimated at over N2bn were lost to the flood while about 344 communities were completely submerged by the flood. The report also said that 50,493 internally displaced persons, who had no alternative accommodation, had been housed in 87 camps in the nine affected LGAs. It said the management of the camps through the combined efforts of the Federal Government agencies and Kogi State as well as voluntary humanitarian organisations had ensured safe and healthy living for the flood victims in the camps.

Drug Trafficking: Nigerian Jailed 13-Year Rigorous Imprisonment in India

A special NDPS court on Monday sentenced a Nigerian to 13 years rigorous imprisonment after he was found guilty of possessing 2.890 kg of banned narcotic heroin. Okocha Mike was also fined Rs 1 lakh. According to the prosecution, Mike was arrested in March, 2009 at the airport, when he was on his way to Addis Ababa. Drugs were found in the false bottoms of his bags. Mike, who had earlier confessed he was paid $500 to carry the bags, retracted the statements. He said he was falsely implicated after he had a skirmish with the airline staff. The court found no substance in the defence. The court allowed the period already spent in jail to be set off. Mike will now spend ten years in jail.

Gunmen Kill FRSC Officials in Kano

Gunmen on a motorcycle, on Wednesday, shot dead two officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission in Kano, Kano State. The killers were suspected to be members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. One other FRSC official sustained bullet wounds. The incident occurred one day after two policemen were shot dead by gunmen in the city. Sector Commander of the FRSC, Kano State Command, Zaaki Alkali, confirmed the incident.

INTERNATIONAL

Algeria, Mauritania Dialogue over Malian Crisis

Mauritania and Algeria have called for dialogue in a bid to reach a political solution to the six-month-old crisis in neighbouring Mali, according to Algeria’s minister for Maghreb and African affairs, Abdelkader Messahel. Messahel, however, that both countries were committed to stamping out extremists in the region, but ruled out sending troops. Mali has been effectively split into two since late March, when Islamist groups with ties to Al-Qaeda conquered the north on the back of a rebellion by secular Tuareg rebels whom they soon overpowered. The Islamists have since enforced an extreme form of sharia law and fuelled fears that northern Mali could become a new global sanctuary for jihadi fighters.

15 Die in Sudanese Military Plane Crash

At least 15 people were killed and seven others injured when a Sudanese military transport plane crashed west of Khartoum, on Monday, while on its way to Darfur region, army spokesman, Sawarmi Khaled Saad, confirmed. Meanwhile, Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, has ordered that land and river border crossings with South Sudan be reopened, after agreements signed last month eased tensions between both nations. The announcement came after Bashir and his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir, on September 27 signed deals on security and cooperation that they hailed as ending their countries’ conflict.

Philippines, Muslim Rebels Agree Peace Deal

President Benigno Aquino of Philippine has announced a deal between his government and Muslim rebels to end a 40-year conflict that has killed more than 120,000 people. The deal is expected to pave the way for a political and economic revival of the country’s troubled south. The agreement begins a roadmap to create a new autonomous region in the south of the mainly Roman Catholic country before the end of Aquino’s term in 2016, giving the Muslim-dominated area greater political powers and more control over resources. Expectations are high that after nearly 15 years of violence-interrupted talks, both the government and the country’s largest Muslim rebel group will keep their pledges in the agreement. The new entity, whose exact size will be decided by plebiscites, will be called Bangsamoro – the term for those who are native to the region.

France Arrests Islamic Extremists

The French government has predicted more arrests of Islamic extremists and warned of possibly hundreds of home-grown militants still at large following a crackdown in the country’s Jewish community. Interior Minister, Manuel Valls, issued the warning in the wake of a nationwide sweep at the weekend that left one man dead and 12 others in detention on suspicion of either being involved in the bombing of a Jewish grocery last month or of planning other anti-Semitic attacks. Police, last weekend, shot dead the suspected leader of the group, Jeremie Louis-Sidney, 33, after he opened fire on officers seeking to arrest him in a dawn raid at his home. Subsequent police raids on addresses in the Paris region and in the Riviera resort of Cannes resulted in 12 suspects being detained and a total of 27,000 euros ($35,000) in cash being seized along with arms, radical Islamic literature, computer files and a list of Jewish organisations.

Syrian Army Steps up Bid against Rebels in Homs

Syrian army pressed an offensive against rebel-held areas in the central province of Homs on Monday, seeking to eliminate the last pockets of resistance to free up troops for the north. The assault targeted two neighbourhoods of Homs city where rebel forces have been under siege for more than four months, and the nearby town of Qusayr which has been surrounded by the army since late last year, sources on both sides said. Homs province has suffered some of the worst bloodshed and destruction of the uprising which erupted against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in March last year as the army has mounted repeated attempts to recapture rebel-held areas.

Dozens Killed as Blast Hits Syrian Air Force Premises

Dozens of people were reportedly killed on Tuesday after two attacks by suicide bombers hit a Syrian air force premises near Damascus. A rights group says that it feared for the safety of hundreds of prisoners being held there. Meanwhile, Turkey has again warned Syria that it would not hesitate to retaliate for any strike on its soil as the country’s top military commander visited troops stationed along the reinforced border. And with fighting spilling across into both Turkey and Lebanon, UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to declare a unilateral truce while NATO’s head, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, urged restraint by all parties.

Sudan Arrests Suspects in Ambush of Peacekeepers

Sudanese authorities have detained suspects in the killings of four Nigerian peacekeepers in Darfur, reports from Sudan say. UN sources say the attack on October 2 was the deadliest in UNAMID's nearly five-year history. UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, was “appalled and deeply saddened” by the ambush, his spokesman, Martin Nesirky, said. The UN has regularly made such calls after the deaths of peacekeepers in Darfur, and has described such attacks as a war crime.  The deaths of the Nigerians brought to 42 the number of UNAMID members killed in hostile action.

 

Islamist Rebels Join Forces Against Assa

Powerful Syrian Islamist brigades, frustrated at the growing divisions among rebels, have joined forces in what they say is a "liberation front" to topple President Bashar al-Assad. Differences over leadership, tactics and sources of funding have widened the rifts between largely autonomous brigades scattered across Syria, reports Reuters. After more than a month of secret meetings, leaders of Islamist brigades - including the Farooq Brigade that operates mainly in Homs province and the heavyweight Sukour al-Sham brigade of Idlib - formed the "Front to Liberate Syria". The agreement is not the first which seeks to bring together disparate fighting groups and its Islamist emphasis has already alienated some other fighters. The new front does not include some groups which Western officials consider the most radical such as the Nusra Front, an affiliate of al Qaeda which has claimed responsibility for a series of devastating bombs in Damascus and Aleppo.

19 Killed, Several Missing in Bangladesh’s Storm

No fewer than 19 people were killed and an estimated 1,500 fishermen missing after tropical storms smashed into Bangladesh’s southern coastal islands and districts on Thursday. At the worst-hit island of Hatiya, about seven people were killed after they were buried under their houses or hit by fallen trees, said local police chief, Moktar Hossain. More than 1,000 houses were also flattened. “More than 100 fishing trawlers, each carrying at least 10 fishermen, have been missing since the storm,” he said. Many fishermen are expected to have taken shelter in other remote islands in the Bay of Bengal or in the neighbouring Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. In the past, many fishermen thought to be missing from storms returned home to coastal villages a week or two later.

Drone Attack Kills 18 Insurgents in Pakistan

A drone attack by United States (U.S.) reportedly killed 18 insurgents – mostly Afghans –at a militant compound in Pakistan’s tribal region near the northwestern border with Afghanistan. The attack was the second of such U.S. missile strike reported in as many days in the northwest, considered a stronghold of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The attack came as Pakistan is in shock over the Taliban’s attempted assassination of a 14-year-old child rights activist. U.S. drones fired four missiles on a militant compound and initial reports said 11 militants died, local administration chief, Khushal Khan, disclosed. He said most of the dead were Afghans. His deputy, Rafiq Mohmand, later put the toll at 18 dead.