Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 45

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Abducted Expatriates Regain Freedom

Seven crew members of an anchor handling ship kidnapped last month by attackers who stormed their vessel off Nigeria have been released, French company Bourbon said on Thursday. Borboun said that the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) worked towards their release. Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, a JTF spokesman, said troops from the unit were involved in securing the release. The crew, kidnapped on October 15, were undergoing medical checks in Nigeria and would return to their home countries within the next few days, Bourbon said. The targeted ship, the Bourbon Liberty 249, was an anchor handling vessel, used to tow anchors for oil rigs or mobile drilling rigs.

Gunmen Kill Two Policemen in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Police Command on Thursday confirmed the loss of two of its men to suspected bandits in the Agbura suburb of Yenagoa. Police spokesman, Fidelis Odunna, said that the assailants, operating in a black jeep, killed the officers at the Agbura roundabout on Wednesday night. He said those killed were a corporal and a sergeant, adding that a manhunt for the suspects had begun. A source disclosed that the incident occurred when the policemen on routine duty were taken unawares by the bandits, who promptly opened fire on them.

Gunmen Kill Businessman in Onitsha

Suspected armed robbers, on Monday, gunned down a middle-aged man, Chief Emeka Ekwerendu, a car dealer, in Onitsha, Anambra State. It was gathered that the four-man gang operating in a light green Toyota Sienna with no number plate, trailed their victim from a Catholic church before he was shot dead and undisclosed amount of money taken from his car. According to an eyewitness, the gunmen shot his tyres, causing the car to lose control before they shot him. The hoodlums were said to be armed with four AK 47 rifle and were shooting into the air to scare the people.

One Killed as Gunmen Attack Oil Worker in Rivers

One person was reported killed in an attack on the convoy bearing the Land Area Manager at the Agip Gas Plant, Ebocha, Mr Gershon Ogbuluijah, by gunmen on Tuesday. It was gathered that armed men, about four in number, opened fire on the first of the three cars in the convoy killing the driver instantly. It was gathered that after opening fire on the vehicle, the armed men faced the second car, in which their suspected target, Ogbuluijah, sat with an expatriate staff member of the company in the back seat. The police escort in the third vehicle, however, promptly swung into action and opened fire on the killer squad, which succumbed to the response of the escort team and escaped the scene of the attack.

Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor Resigns

Akwa Ibom State deputy governor, Mr Nsima Ekere, on Wednesday, tendered his resignation from office after serving in the capacity for 17 months. In a letter dated Wednesday, October 31, endorsed by his press secretary, Mr Inemesit Ekere said his resignation was on personal grounds. He, however, commended the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and the people of the state for the opportunity given him to serve the state.  Ekere, who was the chairman of  the Akwa Ibom  Investment and Industrial Promotion Commission, (AKIIPOC) before his last appointment wished the governor and the people well in the remaining years of the administration.

Kidnappers Abduct Enugu Monarch

The traditional ruler of Enugwu Ukwu in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, Chief Dennis Anaekwe, was, on Monday, kidnapped at the boundary between the community and Abagana. It was gathered that the chief, who is second in command in Enugwu Ukwu traditional hierarchy, returned from Lagos weekend and was said to be visiting somebody in the morning when some unknown persons used their vehicle to block his own and dragged him out of his car to their own vehicle. No official statement has been issued on the incident as the traditional ruler of Enugwu Ukwu, Igwe Ralph Ekpe, was said to be out of the country.

Rivers Lecturers Lament Spate of Kidnapping

Lecturers of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State have sent a Save-Our-Soul call to President Goodluck Jonathan following the incessant kidnapping of their colleagues by hoodlums. The lecturers, under the aegis of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), alleged that no fewer than seven lecturers of the college had been kidnapped in 2012 alone, while one of them, Dr. Richard Ihua-Maduenyi, died in captivity. Chairman of COEASU in the college, Comrade Peter Chima Godfrey, who disclosed this, blamed the incessant cases of kidnapping on security lapses on the part of the Nigerian government.

3 Fake Soldiers Nabbed in Aba

Forward Operation Base, FOB, 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Aba, Abia State, said on Monday that it had arrested three suspected fake soldiers, who stole NITEL underground cables. Capt. Chris Nwogu, Officer-in-Charge of the base, said that the suspects included a dismissed lance corporal from the Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja, and a civilian. Nwogu said the suspects paraded themselves as soldiers. He said a man, who claimed to be a cadet with a fake Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, identity card, was also arrested.

Anambra Govt Demolishes Buildings Owned by Suspected Kidnapper

Two bungalows linked to a kidnap suspect, Mr Emeka Ezekwe, have been demolished by the Anambra State government, at Umuihepune, Umuatu village, Ihiala LGA of the state. Governor Peter Obi, who led the demolition team, said the war against kidnapping and other crimes in the state must be won. The demolition followed the arrest of Mr Ezekwe and recovery of arms and ammunition hidden underground in plastic containers on the premises.  Among the items recovered were one rocket grenade, three grenade propellers, two AK 47 rifles, 27 AK 47 magazines, 170 rounds of live ammunition and nine chains used in restraining kidnap victims. The state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr Ayole Abeh, said Mr Ezekwe was a member of the kidnap gang led by Mr Olisa Ifedike, also known as Ofeakwu, who was arrested in September.

Abia Shuts 100 Illegal Schools

In its bid to improve the standard of education in the state, Abia State government has closed down over 100 illegal nursery, primary and secondary schools across the state. The government announced that the premises of the illegal schools had been sealed off and that a tribunal would be set up to try the operators of the schools. Commissioner for Education, Monica Philips, who disclosed this, said the illegal schools were used to perpetrate examination malpractices. She said despite previous warnings to illegal private schools and advice that their operators upgrade them; they refused hence the decision to close them. She said that officials of the ministry were still going round the state to identify other illegal schools.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Amnesty International Seeks Reprieve for Edo Prisoners on Death Row

Amnesty International has appealed to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, to rescind its decision to carry out the death sentence passed on two inmates at the state prison. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has also written to President Goodluck Jonathan, asking him to prevail on the governor to stop the execution. Amnesty International noted that it was difficult for many accused persons to get justice in Nigeria’s justice system, adding that it would not be fair to execute those who might not have received fair trials and are on death. Director General of Amnesty International, Mr. Salil Shetty, said the body was concerned that Oshiomhole had expressed his readiness to go ahead with the execution of the two death row inmates. Shetty said the excuse that the executions would be done to tackle the challenge of prison congestion was not the best way of addressing the problem.

Delta Police Smash Kidnap Gang

The police in Delta State have smashed an inter-state kidnap gang and recovered cache of illegal arms and ammunition with nine suspects arrested. A native doctor and his father were arrested for preparing charms for the suspects, while the police intensifies search for an army corporal in connection with the crime. Items recovered from the syndicate included four AK47 rifles, 34 magazines 343 different calibre of ammunition, a single barrel gun, one locally-made pistol, 12 cartridges, two battle axes, one Toyota Corolla and one red Volkswagen Golf. Police spokesman, Charles Muka, said some the arms and ammunition were recovered from a ceiling in one of the suspects’ residence in Agulu, Anambra State.

Delta Police Mop Up Arms, Arrest 81 Kidnap Suspects

Delta State Police Command has embarked on mop up of unlawful and illegal arms in the state. The police also arrested 81 kidnap and robbery suspects in the last two months. Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba, who disclosed this on Thursday, called for useful information which would attract a handsome reward for the recovery of such arms and ammunition. He said that the command recovered six English riffles, three English pistols, 17 locally-made guns, 1018 ammunition and 57 cartridges within the period under review. He blamed most of the kidnap and robbery cases on insider factor, while relating among others, how a traditional ruler in the state lost over N2million withdrawn by one of his aides to robbers as a result of an insider’s information. Aduba also warned his men, especially the DPOs not to soil their hands in dealing with criminals

Delta Bans Commercial Bikes in Major Cities

Delta State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Benson Igbakpa, has said there was no going back on the ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, as the ban takes effect November 1. He made it clear that the restriction would begin today in Warri, Asaba and Effurun, warning that the ban did not exclude private motorcycle users. Governor Uduaghan had extended the ban by one month to enable a better take off of the system. The governor, who subsidized the cost of the tricycles up to 70 per cent, from N400,000 to N150,000, warned operators of the tricycles to restrict themselves to routes approved for them.

7 Burnt to Death in Delta Road Accident

Seven persons were burnt to death, on Thursday, in an auto crash along Agbor-Abavo-Asaba highway. An eyewitness disclosed that there were four survivors, who were rushed to an undisclosed hospital. He said that the accident occurred when a bus carrying about 11 passengers reportedly collided with a Peugeot J5 bus, which lost control, leading to an explosion. There was no fire service, even when the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC officials, came later, nobody could do anything.

Flood: Victims Protest in Delta

Hundreds of flood victims at the Ughelli camp, Ughelli North LGA, of Delta State, have protested what they described as ill-treatment allegedly meted on them by some camp officials. Over 300 protesters stormed the palace of HRM Wilson Ojakovo, Oharisi III, the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom to register their grievances. Speaking on behalf of the protesters at the palace, Mrs. Grace Etabuko, alleged that despite the regular provision of food and other relief materials by the state government, individuals, churches and corporate bodies, they were not given food promptly, alleging that in most cases they took breakfast at 3pm and dinner at 10pm.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Man Arrested Defiling 10-Year-Old Stepdaughter
…Another Remanded over Rape of 9-Year-Old

The Ogun State police command has arrested the 62-year-old man, Alabi Ibraheem, who was accused of defiling his 10-year-old stepdaughter in Abeokuta. Ibraheem, who was reported to have evaded arrest, was eventually arrested by policemen and was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further interrogation. The state police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest, adding that the suspect would soon be charged to court. Meanwhile, an Osogbo magistrates’ court, on Monday, ordered a 32-year-old man, Akinboye Adewole, to be remanded in prison custody for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl. The accused was alleged to have committed the offence on October 14 at the Olorisaoko area of Ikire, Osun State. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of rape.

10 Drown in Lagos Boat Mishap

The bodies of all passengers aboard an ill-fated boat have been recovered by men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and local divers following last weekend’s boat accident. The ten passengers got drowned when an Imude-bound canoe ferrying them capsized. Authorities of Oto/Awori Local Council Development Area had blamed the purportedly high casualty figure of the incident on the refusal of residents of communities in the area to wear life jackets when on board.  The council had, therefore, commenced plans to enforce the use of life jackets by passengers of canoes in all communities in the area.

5 Policemen Bag 25 Years Jail Term for Robbery

Five policemen were, on Thursday, sentenced to 25 years imprisonment each by Justice Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole of a Lagos State High Court for robbing a lorry loaded with textile materials, 10 years ago. The judge also ordered that the sentence should run concurrently, beginning from March 3, 2005, when they were first remanded in prison custody. The policemen were charged to court for robbing the lorry, which was loaded with lace materials around 9pm on November 17, 2002, on the Ikorodu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway, when the lorry was en-route to Benin with the goods.

Bike Man Kills Transport Boss over N100 Levy

The branch chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), in one of the parks in Ondo town, Ondo State, Ebenezer Adedeji, has been killed. He was killed by a suspected bike rider when an argument ensued over the payment of N100 daily ticket. The deceased was said to have accosted the suspect at Shora Street in the town and demanded for N100 being the money for the daily ticket of the association. The suspect allegedly abandoned his motorcycle on the spot and left for his house only to return with a cutlass, and trailed the victim to where he was having a meeting and allegedly attacked his victim with the cutlass. The suspect who fled after killing the deceased was pursued and later arrested by the traders in the area and subsequently handed over to the police.

CJ Frees 42 Prisoners in Osun

Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, during her tour of prisons in the state, released 42 inmates from five prisons across the state. Those who regained their freedom were imprisoned for various offences. She set free 15 inmates in Ilaro, five in Abeokuta, 9 in Oba, nine in Ijebu and four in Sagamu prisons. Justice Olopade chided the Investigating Unit, Legal Department of the Nigeria Police, over the slow pace of investigating issues involving majority of the inmates. She hinted that Magistrates also complained about the uncooperative attitude of prosecuting officers. She identified issues of missing case files and lack of witnesses as some of the factors responsible for the delay in judicial process and over congestion in all the prisons visited. She added that many inmates were found to be on the awaiting trial list, having spent between three to six years in prison.

Couple Arraigned over Dangerous Neglect of Child

Mr Sikiru Adebayo and his wife, Fatimo, were, on Monday, arraigned before an Oyo Magistrates’ court for neglecting their parental responsibility leading to an alleged rape of their six-year-old daughter. The couple is facing a two-count charge of negligence of duty by failing to protect their daughter on September 21 at Opapa area of Oyo which exposed her to danger. They were also accused of failing to maintain and protect their daughter as parents by placing her under specific guidance which exposed her to unhygienic environment. Police prosecutor, Sgt. Musa Raji, said the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1) and Section 16(2) of the Child’s Right Law of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2006. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Briton Docked over $227,035 Fraud
…Court Remands 3 in over N66.5m Fraud

A British citizen, Anthony Boyson, also known as Armstrong Christopher, was on Monday arraigned before a Lagos State High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly defrauding Pilgrims Africa Limited of $227,035. Boyson was charged alongside Nwamadi Monica and Marisec Services Limited on a nine-count-charge of fraud, which they pleaded not guilty to. Monica and Boyson were accused of defrauding Pilgrims Africa Limited through Marisec Services Limited by falsely pretending to be Mr. Jacobus Marthinus Claasens, Managing Director of same company in February 2011. Similarly, 3 persons were remanded in custody for allegedly obtaining N66.5 million under false pretence. They were alleged to have conspired to defraud one Lady Lora Marire of the said sum under the pretence of helping to register her as a contractor with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and offering her a contract to build 100 units of duplex.

Four Drivers Remanded in for Assaulting FRSC Officials

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded four drivers in prison custody for allegedly fighting with officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission. The accused allegedly entered the premises of FRSC, Jebba Unit and forcefully removed a Toyota Corolla car impounded. The charge said the accused vandalised the FRSC premises in the process of removing the vehicle. The prosecutor, Insp. Mojisola Olamokun, urged the court to remand them in prison, pending the completion of investigation. In her ruling, Magistrate Mariam Salahu ordered them to be remanded in the Federal Prison Yard, Ilorin, and adjourned the case till November 8.

Four Killed in Ogun Road Accident

Four persons were, last weekend, killed in an auto crash in Abeokuta, Ogun state. The mangled bodies of the victims were trapped in the damaged car and sympathisers had to use axe to cut the car into pieces to enable them remove the bodies. The accident occurred when a Toyota Tundra collided with a Nissan car. The SUV, said to have been coming from Sagamu end of the road on speed was reported to have crossed the median and hit the car which had six occupants on the other side of the road. The Guardian gathered at the scene of the accident that the driver of the SUV was receiving a telephone call while on top speed, when he suddenly approached the speed breaker in front of the Governor’s office, resulting in the accident. The survivors were quickly rushed to the hospital.

Woman Docked over Impersonating Army Officer, Car Theft

A 25-year-old woman, Cynthia Okonkwo, was on Monday, charged with impersonating an army officer at an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos. Okonkwo was also charged with the theft of a Toyota Camry saloon car. She, however, pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge of impersonation, unlawful possession, stealing and conspiracy. According to Cpl. Kemi Adeniran, the prosecutor, Okonkwo falsely and unlawfully represented herself as an army officer by putting on an army cap and a jacket. She said the accused committed the offences on October 16th at Ojota motor park, Lagos. Magistrate I.O. Afunwa granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 and two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case.

Teenager in Court over Possession of Fake Naira Notes

A 19-year-old man, Solomon Banabas, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court in Lagos, over alleged unlawful possession of fake naira notes totalling N14, 000. Banabas pleaded guilty as charged. The prosecutor, Edet Okoi, informed the court that the accused was caught with the fake notes on October 11 along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Okoi pointed out that the accused could not give a satisfactory explanation of how he came about the fake notes.

GENERAL

20 Killed as Gunmen Attack Zamfara Community

About 50 Gunmen, in the early hours of Tuesday, stormed the village of Kaboro in Maru emirate council of Zamfara State, killing at least 20 people. An eyewitness disclosed that the assailants came on horses and motorcycles, carrying dangerous weapons and AK47 rifles to attack the small village at about 2am. It is feared that the onslaught which lasted for two hours is connected with the role members of the vigilance group played in recent times which provoked the gunmen who embarked on a reprisal. The acting governor of the state, Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji, in company with the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Akila Gwary, described the incident as barbaric and negated the sharia law which is being practised in the state, vowed that the state government would not fold its arms and allow the miscreants to go free.

Gunmen Kill 6 in Plateau Villages

Six persons were killed and others injured in Barkin-Ladi LGA of Plateau State, on Monday, when about 20 gunmen stormed a drinking joint and opened fire on them. It was gathered that the gunmen killed four people on the spot, while two others died in the hospital. The injured were taken to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital for treatment. One of the survivors, Istifanus Zhi, said that the gunmen, speaking Fulani, sneaked into the village in their large number with rifles and other weapon and opened fire on the villagers. But the state police spokesman, Abuh Emmanuel, confirmed only one person dead in the attack, adding that four others who sustained injuries are presently receiving treatment.

Nigerian Gets 20 Years Jail Term in UK for Human Trafficking

Nigerian sex trafficker from Gravesend, United Kingdom, who used witchcraft to silence young girls smuggled into Britain to be sold as prostitutes, has been jailed for 20 years. Osezua Osolase (42) tricked Nigerian girls into traveling to the United Kingdom with the promise of a better life, but instead attempted to send them on to mainland Europe to be sexually assaulted by gangs. The girls were told they would die or never bear children if they tried to escape or revealed what had happened to them. Detectives discovered evidence that at least 28 victims were smuggled in and out of Britain by Osolase over a 14-month period, earning him up to £1.5 million.

Boko Haram Gives Conditions for Ceasefire

The leadership of the Boko Haram sect has said that it is willing to cease fire and stop all atrocities if the government will heed its demands. The acclaimed spokesman of the sect, Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez, on Thursday said that if the government wants a ceasefire, former Borno State governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, must be arrested and prosecuted. The group also demanded compensation and rebuilding of its places of worship that were destroyed during the 2009 uprising. Abdulazeez further stressed that, all arrested sect members be released with immediate effect. He mentioned General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as its negotiator, while all negotiations will be done in Saudi Arabia. In another development, Amnesty International has said that Nigeria is illegally holding hundreds of people, suspected of participating in violence perpetrated by Boko Haram and is denying them access to lawyers. Some of the suspects in detention have been summarily executed by security forces before facing trial, the group alleged.

NNPC Appoints New MDs for Port Harcourt, Warri Refineries

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced the appointment of new Managing Directors (MD) for the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries. The new Managing Directors are Mr. Ian Udoh who takes charge of PHRC and Mr. Paul Obelley for WRPC.  According to a statement from the acting Group General Manager Public Affairs of the Corporations, Mr. Fidel Pepple, Monday in Abuja, the change is part of a bid to reposition NNPC and its key Strategic Business Units (SBUs). Pepple disclosed that the management of the corporation had approved the appointment of the new Managing Directors for the refineries as well as the promotion and redeployment of a number of other management staff.

Gunmen Kill Policeman, Seven Others in Plateau

Eight persons, including a police officer were, on Thursday, killed in Riyom LGA of Plateau State following attacks on Jwol and Sopp villages in the council area.  It was gathered that the gunmen invaded Jwol and waylaid a group of policemen, who were on routine patrol of the area and opened fire on them killing one Corporal Istifanus Samaila. The gunmen also killed another four persons at Sopp village before they escaped into the hills.  The State Police spokesman, , Emmanuel Abuh, confirmed the latest attack. Meanwhile, the Plateau State commissioner of police Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni has called on religious leaders and residents of the state to be on constant alert. He stressed the need for security consciousness amongst residents, while appealing to the religious leaders to moderate hours of worship and to provide adequate security for their members during worship hours. The Police also disclosed that over N13Million worth of stolen properties including cars, motorcycles, Laptop and Blackberry phones have been recovered in the last two months.

10 Die, 100 Injured in Kaduna Suicide Bomb Attack

A suicide bomber drove a vehicle packed with explosives into a Catholic church in Kaduna, penultimate Sunday, killing at least 10 people, wounding nearly 100 and triggering reprisals that led to the death of at least two more, officials said. The bomber drove a jeep right inside the packed St Rita's Church, in the Malali area of Kaduna, a volatile ethnically and religiously mixed city, in the morning. Shortly after the blast, angry Christian youths took to the streets armed with sticks and knives. In another development, an explosion on Ilela Street in the Bauchi metropolis late on Saturday injured two persons. Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ladan, confirmed the incident. The CP also confirmed the arrest of two people on the suspicion of being suicide bombers who had wanted to bomb a church in Bauchi.

NUPENG Threatens Strike over Sack of Members

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has condemned the alleged victimisation and severance of its union officials in the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). It stressed that Nigerians should hold the oil company’s management responsible for the industrial action that would follow if SPDC failed to reinstate the sacked officials. The union, in a statement signed by its Deputy President, Comrade John Eddy Ossai and acting General Secretary, Comrade Isaac Aberare, reiterated that the NUPENG-SPDC caretaker committee chairman, Comrade Enomate Kingsley and 16 other union members affected by the severance should immediately be reinstated in the interest of industrial peace.

393 Ex-Militants Graduate from Training in Ghana

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has said 393 ex-militants undergoing reintegration under the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated from training centres in Ghana. According to him, the ex-militants were trained in welding and fabrication, agriculture and fish farming, crane operation, maritime and drilling technology. Kuku, who spoke while playing host to the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Oluseyi Onafowokan, added that 200 others graduated from the National Vocational Training Institute, Kumasi, while another 45 trained in electrical installation, welding wood work and carpentry at Koforidua Institute. He urged the President and the National Assembly to make provision for the Amnesty Office to establish quality training centres in the country.

Jonathan Swaps Ministers of State for Power, Niger Delta

President Goodluck Jonathan, Wednesday, on Wednesday reshuffled his cabinet by swapping the portfolios of two ministers of state. In the minor cabinet reshuffle, the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, was moved to the Ministry of Power in the same capacity, while Darius Dickson Ishaku, the Minister of State for Power will replace Kuchi in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The cabinet swap takes effect immediately. Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said in a statement that the president’s decision was taken to strengthen the power sector.

Gunmen Attack Borno Town, Torch Police Station

Gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect attacked Chibok, a town in Borno State, burning down the Police Station and a primary school. They also set a telecom mast ablaze. An eyewitness, said the gunmen, armed with petrol-bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) immediately set out to attack the police station and a primary school. He said policemen on duty had to flee when the gunmen started throwing petrol-bombs and explosives at the police station. He, however, said the youths of the town had to summon courage and chase off the fundamentalists. In another attack, an associate of the ex-governor Ali Modu Sheriff, Alhaji Mustapha Flawama, 62, was shot dead at his residence on Wednesday. The spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said a student was also killed during the attack on Chibok.

Civil Servant Arraigned in Court over Facebook Comments

A 30-year old civil servant, Abbas Faggo, detained by Bauchi State Government for allegedly posting a Facebook account of alleged monumental corruption in the state, was on Tuesday arraigned before a magistrate court over alleged injurious falsehood and defamation. The prosecution accused Faggo of using his mobile telephone number to forward a message on his Facebook profile on September 4, alleging that the state funded the wedding of the state governor’s son. The case generated over 500 comments, prompting the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take over the case. The presiding Magistrate, Adamu Madaki granted bail to Faggo, with two sureties, who must sign a bond of N500,000 each and then adjourned the case to November 15. When the case was mentioned, counsel from different organisations led by Chairman of NBA in Bauchi State, Mohammed Alhassan, announced appearance for Faggo.

Guard Jailed for Stealing Exhibits

An Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday, sentenced a security guard, Barnabas Aminu, to three months imprisonment for stealing two trousers. The Senior Magistrate, Mr Tony Ubani, who handed down the judgment, however, did not give the convict an option of fine, which he said was to serve as deterrent to other offenders of like minds. The Police Prosecutor, Abdullahi Adamu, had told the court that Aminu, a security guard at the Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court, dishonestly entered the Court’s exhibit room while on duty and stole a pair of jean trousers. He said that the trousers, valued at N6, 000 were recovered from him during investigation. The prosecutor said that Aminu’s offence contravened the provisions of Section 289 of the Penal Code. Aminu pleaded guilty to the allegation and begged for mercy.

Woman Killed by Royal Gunman in Niger State

A woman was, on Monday, killed at the palace of the Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Awal Ibrahim, when a royal gunman attached to the Suleja Emirate Council shot her while watching the annual durbar (horse race) that marked the end of the Muslim festival of Eid-el-kabir at the palace ground. The woman was hit by a bullet just as the durbar was about to be rounded off and as the royal gunmen added colour to the occasion by shooting sporadically into the air with their Dane guns as it is the tradition. It was learnt that one of the gunmen, who is yet to be identified, had an accidental discharge that led to the death of the 40-year-old identified as Hajiya Isa Aishatu. In another incident at Maje Village in Suleja LGA of Niger State, a Fulani man, who was allegedly drunk, killed a passer-by in order to escape arrest in the village after a fight broke out. Police spokesman, Pius Edobor, confirmed the incident and arrest of the suspect.

Plateau Police Smash group Behind Midnight Attacks

Plateau State police command has arrested five persons suspected to be masterminds of series of midnight attacks on villages in Riyom and Barkin-Ladi LGAs of the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ayeni, said based on information concerning the attacks, detectives from the state Criminal Investigative Department (CID) swung into action and arrested five kingpins. The police commissioner added that in the course of preliminary interrogations, it was discovered that the suspects were behind series of attacks in the two LGAs. He said they are currently in the custody of the state police command, adding that one of the victims of the attacks identified two of the suspects as those who killed some members of his family in an identification parade conducted by his command.

Plane Crash: Injured Governor’s Aides Flown to Germany for Treatment

The three aides of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State involved in penultimate Thursday’s air crash in company of the governor have been transferred to Germany for treatment, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, said. The movement of the three aides to Germany came as the state government declared that there was no power vacuum in the state. Mr. Bello declared that the deputy governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar was holding forth for the recuperating governor. They had earlier been transferred to the National Hospital, weekend. The movement of the aides from Abuja to Germany, the stage government declared, was to ensure that like the governor all possible fears were totally removed.

ACN Tasks FG on Anti-Terrorism Tactics

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), on Monday, urged the Federal Government to review its tactics in fighting terrorism in the country. The party also said Sunday’s deadly bombing of St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Ungwan Yero near Malali, Kaduna had shown the limitation of the government’s current tactics. National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, describing the attack as “ungodly and cruel”, said the government must urgently evolve a measure that will protect innocent citizens, from the terrorists and the security agencies, and curtail the ability of the insurgents to strike at a time and place of their own choosing.

INTERNATIONAL

Sandy Death Toll Hits Nearly 160 in US, Caribbean

About 98 persons have been confirmed dead in the US after super storm sandy hit the country, leaving a trail of anguish and destruction. Drivers lined up for hours to get scarce gasoline and millions remained without power on Thursday as New York City and nearby coastal towns struggled to recover from one of the biggest storms ever to hit the United States.  The New Jersey shore and the city of Hoboken remained crippled from a record storm surge and flooding, reports show. Officials said the death toll could climb as rescuers searched house-to-house through coastal towns. Disaster modelling company Eqecat estimates Sandy caused up to $20 billion in insured losses and $50 billion in economic losses, double its previous forecast. Sandy started as a late-season hurricane in the Caribbean, where it killed 69 people, before smashing ashore in the United States with 80 mph winds.

Syrian Rebels Kill 28 Soldiers

Anti-government rebels killed 28 soldiers on Thursday in attacks on three army checkpoints around Saraqeb, a town on Syria's north-south highway.  Some of the dead were shot after they had surrendered, according to video footage. The highway linking the capital Damascus to the contested city of Aleppo, Syria's commercial centre, has been the scene of heavy fighting since rebels cut the road last month.

32 Killed, 50 Infected by Yellow Fever Outbreak in Sudan

Sudanese Health Ministry has disclosed that 32 people were killed and 50 others were infected by yellow fever in the country’s Central and South Darfur states. The ministry said it has taken necessary measures to prevent the spread of the disease and lessen the mortality rate via provision of all the required medications to treat the disease and combat the vector mosquitoes. The ministry said it has coordinated with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide yellow fever vaccines to cover the areas of infection. Recent media reports said six people died and 10 others were infected with an unknown fever in South Darfur State.

Egyptian Police Seize Explosives, Arrest Several Suspects

In a crackdown on militants, police in Egypt have seized dozens of bombs and arrested several people allegedly planning attacks in the country, the interior ministry said on Thursday. According to the ministry, police found 83 bombs in a car on a highway outside Cairo, and later arrested two men allegedly linked to them. At a Cairo apartment, they also seized half a kilogramme (one pound) of ball bearings, which can be used in bombs to cause greater damage and injury, and a manual on bomb manufacturing. And they separately arrested two men with electrical circuit boards that could be used in bombs.

Colombia Rebels Kill Six Officers in Ambush

Six Colombian police officers have been killed while on patrol in the south-west of the country in an ambush blamed on left-wing rebels. The officers were shot dead in Cauca province by suspected Farc guerrillas, local police said. The killings come as the Colombian government and the Farc prepare for the next stage in peace talks in Cuba. President Juan Manuel Santos has said he wants to avoid the mistake of the previous peace talks in the late 1990s, when the rebels were given control of a vast demilitarised zone and used the opportunity to regroup. The latest peace attempt, the first direct contact in a decade, was formally launched in Oslo on 18 October. The number of Farc combatants is now believed to be some 8,000, down from 16,000 a decade ago.

Clinton, Algerian Leader in Crucial Talks on Mali, Al-Qaeda

The United States (U.S.) Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, on Monday, held discussions on a possible military intervention in neighbouring Mali, where Islamists now control large areas. Clinton said they agreed to pursue talks and join forces with regional countries, the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to determine the most effective approaches. The U.S and France have launched a diplomatic offensive to secure Algeria’s vital backing for such action in Mali after the UN Security Council urged ECOWAS nations to prepare for a military force against Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) which is tightening its grip on the north.

Air Raids, Explosions Hit Damascus as Truce Fails

Syrian warplanes launched their heaviest air raids amid two car bomb blasts on Monday, as the United Nations (UN)-Arab League peace envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, said the conflict was going from bad to worse. The air raid blasts were followed by two car bombings in and around the capital, Damascus. The first struck the predominantly Christian and Druze area of Jaramana, killing 11 people, while the second hit several hours later in the southern Al-Hajar Al-Aswad district, causing an unknown number of casualties. The violence came as world powers looked to pick up the pieces of a failed effort for a Muslim holiday ceasefire. The Syrian military launched more than 60 air strikes around the country, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Afghan Policeman Kills Two Foreign Soldiers

A man wearing an Afghan police uniform shot dead two members of Afghanistan's NATO-led force in the south of the country on Tuesday. An Afghan police official in the southern province of Helmand said a policeman had killed two British soldiers and efforts were underway to apprehend him. NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) declined to say where the two members of the force killed in the attack were from. At least 56 members of ISAF have been killed this year by Afghans wearing police or army uniforms.

Marburg Haemorrhagic Fever Kills 9 in Uganda

World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that nine deaths have been recorded in Uganda in 18 cases Marburg Haemorrhagic fever outbreak in the country. According to the update, the casualties, including a health worker, were reported from five districts namely Kabale district, in south-western Uganda, Kampala (the capital city), Ibanda, Mbarara and Kabarole. WHO said the case fatality rate is 50 per cent. The outbreak was declared by the Ministry of Health in Uganda October 19, 2012. The WHO and international partners are supporting the national authorities in outbreak investigation and response. Meanwhile, neighbouring countries have been contacted to strengthen cross border surveillance and preparedness to prevent cross border spread of the outbreak. Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a rare, severe type of hemorrhagic fever which affects both humans and non-human primates.

Teenager Kills Mother in Game Row

A 15-year-old boy allegedly stabbed his mother to death on Wednesday after she had scolded him for playing computer games into the early hours of the morning. According to the police, the teenager slashed his 50-year-old mother three times with a machete and stabbed her in the back at their home at 2a.m after they had argued about his late-night computer-game playing. Police Major, Prayuth Puengkaeha, said that the boy’s sister was also wounded in the altercation, and had to be hospitalised. Prayuth said the boy’s case would be presented to the Juvenile Court. The identities of the boy and his family members are withheld for legal reasons.

42 Killed in Saudi Fire Incidents

A gas tanker truck exploded on a main road in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Thursday, killing at least 14 people, injuring about 60 others, officials said. The lorry veered into a bridge pylon in Riyadh, causing a gas leak that filled the area and then burst into flames, destroying nearby cars and a business, the officials said. Civil defence spokesman in Riyadh, Mohammed al-Hammadi, said the explosion took place after gas leaked from the tank of the lorry, according to SPA state news agency. At least 28 people died and 37 were injured in a blaze that hit a wedding party in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern town of Abqaiq on Tuesday. The fire was sparked on Tuesday night by a falling power cable, according to General Abdullah Khushaiman, the director of civil defence in the eastern region. Witnesses said that the power cable snapped and came down due to celebratory bullets shot in the air by some guests.

Couple Kills Daughter for Talking to Boy

A Pakistani couple in Kotli, a town in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killed their teenage daughter by pouring acid on her face and body after they caught her talking to a boy, police said on Thursday. The parents of the 16-year-old confessed to police that they attacked their daughter after she had spoken to the boy outside their house, said Mohammad Jahangir, a local doctor at the hospital where she was brought. The mother initially told the hospital their daughter tried to commit suicide. Police have arrested the parents.