Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 46

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Security Agents Kill 14 Suspected Kidnappers

Security operatives, penultimate Friday, killed 14 members of a gang suspected of armed robbery and kidnapping during a shootout at Kaani community in Khana LGA of Rivers State. Six members of the deadly gang, said to be responsible for the abduction of a Turkish expatriate, reportedly died instantly during the gun duel. The security agents, according to sources, had stormed the suspects’ camp in an attempt to rescue the expatriate identified as Mr. Biram Karakus. While eight members of the gang, including their leader (Bishop Nelly), who sustained gunshot injuries, later died on their way to the hospital, three others are currently in police custody. Police spokesman, Ben Ugwuegbulam, stated that the security agents recovered six AK-47 rifles, 444 rounds of live ammunition, 17 magazines and assorted charms, two bags used to deliver money and the sum of N98,500 from the hoodlums’ hideout.

20 Die Scooping Fuel from Tanker

About 20 people were killed in Amairinabuo Community of Obingwa LGA of Abia State when a fuel tanker exploded. It was gathered that those killed had rushed to scoop fuel from the fallen tanker. The incident, which happened on the Aba/Ikot Ekpene Highway, was said to have occurred when a fuel tanker heading towards Aba, got stuck in mud as a result of bad road condition and upturn when a towing vehicle tried to pull it off the road. A community leader, Chief Friday Erengwa, said he warned the people on the dangers of scooping the fuel, they did not listen. The fire started when a commuter bus fell into the crater on the road and its exhaust pipe ignited the fire, which immediately spread to the nearby fallen tanker and burnt everything within its range.

Pro-Biafra Activists Arrested in Enugu

A group of young men from the five states of the South-east zone under the aegis of the Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM), Monday in Enugu, kept to their vow by re-declaring a new Independent Biafra Republic in Enugu from the present day Nigeria. However, the re-declaration did not go on smoothly as the Police swooped on them and arrested about 500 members of the BZM shortly after the re-declaration at coal camp area of Enugu. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amarizu, confirmed the arrest but put the figure of the arrested BZM members at about 100 persons. Amaraizu said those arrested were suspected members of BZM led by one Ben Onwuka. The arrested members immediately arraigned before an Enugu magistrate court and subsequently remanded in prison custody.

Eight Arrested for Illegal Cable Broadcast

Officials of the National Copyrights Commission (NCC), on Tuesday, arrested eight persons and seized broadcast facilities worth over N3m during an anti-piracy raid in Enugu. NCC’s Director of Enforcement, Augustine Amodu, led the officials who raided Abakpa, Agbani Road, Ogui Road, Awkunanaw, and Achara Layout. Accompanied by police officers and private security personnel, the team arrested the suspects while they were allegedly using facilities of cable operators in the country for a fee. Generators, decoders, wires and television sets were among the items seized from the suspects. Amodu lamented the harm piracy had done to the nation’s economy as genuine cable operators are losing millions of naira following the activities of the pirates.

Ex-Militants Protest in Yenagoa over Allowance

Hundreds of ex-militants, Tuesday, barricaded the only road into Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and closed down the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office over alleged non-payment of their allowance by the Amnesty Office in the last six months. The aggrieved militants threatened to return to the creeks and resume their hostilities and collapse all the oil installations in the state and parts of the Niger Delta region if the Federal Government fails to pay them their entitlements. The former militants besieged the premises of the NDDC which also houses the state office of the Amnesty Programme at Kpansia, uptown Yenagoa. The boys were unmoved despite the high presence of men of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, State Security Service and the police deployed to quell the situation.

Dickson Tasks Security Agencies on Peace and Security

Security agencies have been urged to step-up efforts, particularly in the area of carrying out surveillance on waterways, in order to maintain existing peace in Bayelsa State. Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, who stated, said the call had become imperative, in view of the ongoing boundary dispute in Oluasiri territory of Nembe LGA of the state. Governor Dickson noted that effective patrol of the area, which was riverine, would go a long way in forestalling possible breakdown of law and order. Governor Dickson expressed confidence in their ability to continually combat crime, observing that there had been a significant reduction in cultism and other criminal activities.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

DPP Exonerates Ugolor over Oyerinde’s Murder

The Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Edo State, has absolved Rev. David Ugolor, of being the sponsor of the murder of the late Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Oyerinde was murdered in May by unknown gunmen at his residence in Benin City. Consequently, Ugolor, the Executive Director of African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (AFNEEJ), was arrested following police investigation allegedly linking him with the murder. But the DPP said no prima facie case was made against Ugolor and advised that he be released if still in custody. The DPP’s advice, which was signed by Ade Irehovbude, on behalf of the director, was contained in a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IG) and dated October 29. In his reaction, Ugolor said the police have no reason for framing him up apart from bringing Maismari to frame him up.

15 Die in Delta Auto Crash

Delta State command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Tuesday, confirmed 15 persons dead in a ghastly motor accident which occurred at Abavo, along Agbor-Abraka road, last weekend. State Sector Commander, Susan Ajenje, said that the passengers included seven men, five women and three others, who were burnt beyond recognition. It was gathered that an 18-seater mini bus coming from the Urhonigbe Market, had a head-on collision with a J5 bus coming from Agbor end. The J5 bus driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was said to have been on top speed and in the process, ran into a pot hole, which burst the bus’ tyre. As a result, he lost control of the vehicle and finally rammed into the mini bus said to be carrying traders. The FRSC boss, Mrs Agenje, blamed most accidents on dangerous driving and over-speeding.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Hoodlums, Search for Ex-Governor, Attack Driver

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, escaped an attack by hoodlums who trailed his vehicle to Ilupeju-Ekiti in Oye LGA of the state, last weekend. His driver, Nathaniel Saliu, was not as lucky as he was manhandled by the hoodlums who trailed his vehicle from Ilupeju to Ire-Ekiti and caught up with him. Saliu said the hoodlums who were in a Hilux van dragged him out of the car and asked him where Fayose was. According to him, the hoodlums had planned to kill his boss if they had found him in the vehicle.  The driver said the hoodlums left him and went back into their vehicle when they discovered that the former governor was not inside the vehicle. However, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said he was not aware of the attack.

5 Suspected Robbers Mobbed, Set Ablaze in Lagos

Five people were, penultimate Sunday, killed and set ablaze in Mushin area of Lagos state. There were, however, contradictions on the offence of the five unidentified men, as some alleged that they were robbers. It was gathered that five men were walking around Vono area of Challenge in Mushin, when they were confronted by men of the vigilance team in the area. The victims, when accosted by the security men, reportedly took to their heels, forcing the security men to raise the alarm. They were later arrested and beaten up before they were set on fire. The police in Lagos State have, therefore, commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the killing and arrested three suspects.

Commercial Bike Riders Assault Traffic Officials in Lagos

Aggrieved riders of commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada plying Magodo area of Lagos State took to the Ojodu Berger road on Monday to engage some officers of the Lagos State Traffic and Management Authority (LASTMA) in a fight after a raid by a combined team of policemen and LASTMA officers. It was gathered that an Okada rider, said to be plying one of the restricted routes, was chased by the patrol teams, leading to the protest by other bike men. The bike riders also beat two officers of the LASTMA controlling traffic on the road before they were rescued by passers-by and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. Some of the motorcycle riders said they were not operating on any of the restricted routes in the state and could not understand why the police had continued to molest them.

4 Suspected Robbers Arrested over Attack on Compass MD

Police authorities in Osun State, on Wednesday, in Osogbo, disclosed that four suspected armed bandits, who attacked and shot the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Compass Newspapers, Sina Kawonise, along Owenna/Ilesa road, have been arrested. Confirming their arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Folasade Odoro, hinted that the suspects were rounded up in a bush close to the scene of the attack shortly after the incident. According to her, a combined team of police and some soldiers was able to smoke the suspects out of the bush, where they sought refuge, after shooting their victims. Odoro, however, hinted that investigation into the robbery attack was ongoing and assured that the suspects would be arraigned in court after the police must have concluded their findings on the incident.

Police Shoot Commercial Motorcyclist in Lagos

Pandemonium erupted in Ilupeju area of Lagos State, on Tuesday, when policemen attached to Ilupeju Police Division, allegedly shot a commercial motorcyclist in the chest. It was gathered that the policemen who allegedly shot the commercial motorcyclist were enforcing the recent restriction by the state government on the activities of commercial motorcyclists in the state. The incident has brought the total number of commercial motorcycle riders shot by the police in last two weeks to four while enforcing the ban. However, angered by the incessant killings of their colleagues, commercial motorcyclists in the area were said to have gone on rampage at the Ilupeju and Magodo areas of the state to register their displeasure. Lawmakers in Lagos have cautioned law enforcement agencies against recklessness and brutality in enforcing the law.

15 Arrested as Hoodlums, Vigilante Clash in Kwara

Four people, including two sons of Imam Gambari of Ilorin, Alhaji Hammed Saheed Dele, were allegedly shot Thursday in Ilorin, the Kwara State, following clashes between some youths and people suspected to be members of Vigilante groups in the town. The incident was as a result of the control of some important junctions within Ilorin metropolis, which was said to have been resisted by members of the Vigilante groups in the town. It was gathered that the Vigilante groups in the area had kicked against the activities of the youths, who were alleged to be collecting toll from people in some of the junctions before being allowed passage, which was kicked against by the Vigilantes in the town. The state said it had arrested 15 people in connection with the incident.

Armed Men Shoot Traffic Controller Dead

An electrician, Wale Osisanwo, has been shot dead in Lagos by two suspected robbers after he engaged them in an argument at Ketu. Wale, 37, was said to be controlling traffic flow in front of his shop last weekend when he encountered the suspects. Eyewitnesses said the two men, who got to the scene on a motorcycle, became impatient and challenged Wale, who was controlling vehicles passing in the area. Wale’s brother, Lekan, said that engaged them in an argument and told them to be patient, but they got upset and shot him dead. The Police Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said she had not been briefed on case.

Bike Rider Arraigned for Stripping in Public

The Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has charged a commercial bike rider, who allegedly stripped himself to evade arrest, to court. The suspect, Sunday Udoh, 38, allegedly stripped himself to evade arrest for violating the road traffic law and possibly expose the policemen who wanted to arrest him to attacks from sympathisers. The Taskforce Chairman, Superintendent Bayo Sulaiman, said Udoh’s action constituted public nuisance and was a violation of the traffic law. After pleading not guilty to the charge, the court granted Udoh bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety.

Policeman Kills Bus Conductor

A yet-to-be identified policeman attached to the Alapere Police Division, Lagos, on Wednesday allegedly shot and killed a bus conductor for stepping on him. Eyewitnesses said the policeman, in mufti, was standing at the when the conductor stepped on him. He challenged the man on why he stepped on him and could not apologise. Suddenly there was gun shot, and everyone scampered for safety, only to return to the lifeless body of the conductor. According to the eyewitnesses, the policeman also threatened to shoot a riot policeman who challenged him for shooting the conductor. But as he was tried to escape, people followed him and caught him.

NDLEA Arrests Student with Cocaine

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Tuesday, arrested a 23-year-old student, Chiwuzie Godson Chiedozie, in an attempt to smuggle about 1.535 kilogrammes of cocaine through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The suspect was nabbed after he tested positive to drug ingestion during the screening of passengers on an Arik flight to London. Speaking on the arrest, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar pointed that after arresting the suspect, he was placed under observation where he excreted about 92 pellets of substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 1.535 kilogrammes. According to Hamza, the suspect was also found in possession of two tickets to distract officials.

Motorcyclists Protest against Police Assault in Ibadan

A commercial bike rider, who was hit on the head by a policeman in Ibadan, Oyo State, fainted at the scene, leading to mass protest by other bike riders. Motorcyclists, who witnessed this, reportedly took to the streets in protest. The bike rider was alleged to have carried two passengers, an act that is against the new traffic law in state. As he attempted to escape arrest, the policeman hit him with a baton. Okada riders in Kuola area of Ibadan, on Wednesday morning, burnt the police station in the community in protest. The Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Ayodele Lanade, said 28 suspects and 42 bike men were arrested in connection with the incident and the protest.

GENERAL

Gunmen Kill General Shuwa

Unknown gunmen, last weekend, killed Major General Mamman Shuwa (rtd) shortly before he left for the Mosque for Jumat prayers in Borno State. The Defence Headquarters promptly blamed Boko Haram for the killing. But Boko Haram has since denied involvement. Shuwa, who was over 70 years, alongside his guest, was reportedly killed in his Gwange Ward residence in Maiduguri metropolis as he was preparing for the Friday congregational prayers. Late General Shuwa, a staunch supporter of the ruling ANPP in the state and a strong associate of the former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff,  it was learnt was once the commander of Second Division Nigerian Army who led troops that captured important towns during the Nigeria- Biafra Civil War in the sixties.

Drug Traffickers Get 7-Year Jail Terms

Two drug traffickers arrested by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja will spend the next seven years in prison custody. The convicts, Obiageli Mbechi and Okechukwu Obiora, according to Justice Chukwu Evoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, will spend seven years each in prison over unlawful importation of narcotics. The Judge held that the convicts showed sufficient remorse and that the court expects them to turn a new leaf and contribute to the development of the country after completing their jail terms. Both had pleaded guilty. Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said that he expected others to learn from their experience.

Corporal Steals Ak-47 Guns from Armoury, Suspected of Armed Robbery

A police corporal, attached to the Zamfara state police command is on the run after being accused of stealing arms and supplying same to armed robbers. The said corporal, who was said to have recently stolen 15 brand new AK-47 guns from the Zamfara State police armoury, has been linked to recent deadly attacks on Dogon Dawa village in Kaduna, which left 20 persons, including the village head dead in October. The police corporal was exposed by a local thief catcher who was engaged by some security agencies to unravel the secret behind the dangerous attacks witnessed in some villages of North-West states recently.  Sources said that the local thief catcher was able to retrieve the guns at a particular market leading to investigations within the rank of the police.

Nigeria gets Counter Terrorism Office

The Federal Government has set up a position of Counter-Terrorism Coordinator in the Office of the National Security Adviser in order to coordinate efforts of the counter-terrorism units in all security agencies. President Goodluck Jonathan stated this while declaring open the Regional Conference on Counter-Terrorism in Abuja. President Jonathan said the federal government is embarking on measures to enhance the country’s counter-terrorism capabilities. According to the president a number of measures have been put in place to strengthen the security outfits against terrorism, which is relatively new phenomenon in the country.

Police Kill 2, Arrest 2 in Attempted Robbery

Luck ran out on six dare-devil armed robbers who made attempts to rob a second generation bank located on Ghandi Street in Lokoja, on Thursday, as they met a stiff resistance from the men of the Kogi State Police Command. However, during a gun duel between them and the police, two were killed, while two were arrested while two of them escaped.   The police, however, recovered one pistol and one of the power bikes. The state police commissioner, Mr Mohammed Katsina, disclosed that he was able to attain this feat through the efforts of the “Ambush Squad” whom he said, informed the office immediately the robbers arrived the bank and the prompt efforts of his men. Katsina, who was very elated, explained that the robbers were overpowered after a prolonged and terrible armed engagement.

Thugs Injure 28 Benue Lawmakers, as Speaker Resigns

The speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Thursday, under a tense atmosphere, resigned his position when the lawmakers attempted to impeach him over what they described as gross financial misconduct. About 40 armed youths stormed the Assembly Complex and disrupted the plenary, beating and injuring 28 members of the House who attended the session. It was gathered that the game plan by the legislators to sack the speaker had lasted over a week until the members unanimously adopted an impeachment motion, on point of constitution, claiming that Iorhemba had exhibited high-handedness, misrepresentation of the Assembly to the state executive as well as gross financial misappropriation.

Suspected Ritualist Plucks out Boy’s Eyes

The police in Matari area of Bauchi State have arrested a suspected ritualist, Tukur Adamu, for allegedly plucking off the eyes of his neighbour’s seven-year-old child. Spokesman of the victim’s family, Yakubu Bello, said that the suspect came into the compound of the family of the victim under the pretext of plucking herbal flower. But after plucking the flower, the suspect cajoled the minor into the bush, as he was alone in the compound. When the grandmother came back, she could not find the boy in the house, prompting a search party. The boy was found the following morning with his two eyes removed, while his intestines were bulging out from a deep cut, Bello said. The spokesman said Adamu was immediately picked as the suspect who committed the crime because he was the last person seen with the boy.

Gunmen Burn Police Station, School, Mast in Damaturu

Gunmen, penultimate Sunday, armed with explosives attacked a police station, a primary school and two telecommunications mast in Damaturu, Yobe State. The state Commissioner of Police, Patrick Egbuniwe, however, confirmed the death of two policemen in the attack. Residents said the gunmen attacked their targets with explosives before dawn at around 4.30am. In a separate incident, the lifeless body of a 25-year-old man was found in a well in his residence in Benue State. The deceased had, a day before his death, engaged in a quarrel with his elder brother over the control of their father’s property. The elder brother has since been arrested.

NAFDAC Warns Against Drugs without Mobile Authentication Service

Director-General, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Paul Orhii, has alerted Nigerians to the danger posed to their health by taking drugs that do not have the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS), urging them to begin to reject such drugs from January. Dr Orhii said MAS was an anti-counterfeiting solution technology devised to enable Nigerians to verify the originality or otherwise of the drugs right at the point of purchase, adding that it was part of the war being waged against drug counterfeiting in the nation.

25 Suspects Arrested over Killing of Cop in Kano

The police command in Kano State, penultimate Sunday, arrested 25 suspected gunmen over the killing of a policeman in Kano, penultimate Saturday. The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Idris, confirmed the arrest, saying that the gunmen attacked the policeman at Unguwa Uku area in the metropolis during the monthly environmental sanitation. The deceased police officer was cleaning his environment when the suspected gunmen, on a motorcycle opened fire on him. The gunmen were said to have shot severally in the air after killing their target before fleeing the area.

Over 3000 People Killed in Boko Haram Attacks

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, as revealed that attacks by Boko Haram has claimed at least 3000 lives since it began its terror campaign. He was, however, silent on whether the figure included military and police personnel killed in the line of duty. Ihejirika, who lamented the adverse effects of the sect’s attacks on people in the North, said its actions had crippled socio-economic activities in the area and had negatively affected the psychology of the people. Earlier, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), warned against the growing ties and collaboration between Boko Haram and other regional and international terrorist groups, and cautioned that nations need to cooperate to rout the terrorists.

Senate Orders Police to Halt Armed Assaults

The Senate Thursday ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, to halt the increasing state of insecurity due to armed banditry and criminal activities, especially in the northern parts of the country, which have resulted in the loss of lives and property. The call came followed a resolution during plenary that the IGP should as a matter of urgency step up surveillance and effective policing in the country. A motion brought before the upper legislative chamber by Senator Marafa Garba, said the increasing wave of armed banditry and attacks in the North have resulted in the death of over 250 villagers.

Gunmen Kill Man, Wife in Jos Attack

Gunmen, on Thursday killed a man and his wife in Kachin village, Kurra Falls in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State. A little girl, said to be a relation of the victims, was also killed by the gunmen. The incident came on the heels of Monday’s assassination of four members of the same family in Chaha village in Vwang District in Jos South Local Government. It was learnt that the man killed was the village head of Kachin. However, the police were said to have gunned down two of the assailants. A source said the gunmen had invaded the village around 12 midnight on Wednesday and attacked the village head and his family. But following a distress call, some riot policemen, who were deployed in the area, killed two of the assailants. Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Abuh, confirmed the incident.

Floods: Seven Million Affected in Four Months

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Monday, over seven million persons have been affected by floods which hit parts of the country. It also said about two million Internally Displaced Persons were registered in the affected states, while about 363 persons died during the flooding. Meanwhile, the South-South zone of NEMA has said buffer dams would have prevented the floods. The Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Mr Umesi Emenike, said explained that the essence of the buffer dams was to contain excess water as well as reduce their speed.

9 Killed as Mining Pit Collapses

At least nine illegal miners, Tuesday, lost their lives when a mining pit collapsed on them at Dogon Daji village of Maru LGA of Zamfara State. One of the illegal miners, who gave his name as Shafiu Abdullahi, disclosed that before the tragedy, the miners would have dug about N2.3 million worth of gold. According to him, it took the rescuers more than nine hours to bring out the bodies of the dead miners. Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the state police command, Hassan Usman Talba, has confirmed the incident, saying that the law banning all forms of illegal mining was still in force and that any anyone caught would face the law.

8 Suspected Pipeline Vandals Paraded in Kaduna

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Thursday paraded eight persons suspected of vandalising oil pipelines in Kaduna. NSCDC Public Relation Officer, Oguntunase Michael, said that the suspects were arrested by soldiers while tampering with oil pipeline along Kaduna-Abuja express way on Wednesday. He said they were arrested after a tip off, adding however that the leader of the gang had escaped.  He listed Items recovered from the suspected vandals to include drilling machine, pipes, a generator, 10 drums containing diesel and four 25-litre kegs containing the same product.

Iranian, Nigerian to Answer Arms Charge

A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Monday, ordered an Iranian, Azin Aghajani, and his Nigerian co-accused, Ali Jega, to open their defence in the charge of illegal importation of arms and ammunition preferred against them by the Federal Government. The accused were said to have been arrested in Lagos in July 2010 with a consignment of a container loaded with arms and ammunition, comprising bombs, grenades and rockets imported from Iran. Justice Okechukwu Okeke, ordered them to open their defence after he struck out their application for a no-case submission. The matter was adjourned till November 19.

Blasts, Gunfire Rock Yobe State

Explosions and gunfire rocked Gashua, a town in Yobe state, Tuesday and prompted a military deployment, but there were no immediate reports of casualties, residents and the army said. The military said troops had deployed to the town where the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has previously carried out waves of deadly attacks. A resident said the unrest and heavy presence of soldiers had forced residents to remain in their homes. Another resident said military patrols could be heard in the streets after the shooting and blasts stopped. Military spokesman, Lazarus Eli, confirmed soldiers were patrolling, but declined to give further details.

JTF Kills Four Boko Haram Suspects in Yobe

The military Joint Task Force (JTF), on Tuesday, raided one of Boko Haram’s hideouts in Gashua town in Bade LGA of Yobe State, killing four members of the sect and arresting four others. The killing and arrest of the Boko Haram members, however, came on a day some gunmen suspected to be members of sect also killed two soldiers, injuring a civilian in what was regarded as an unprovoked attack at a Suya joint along Kano-Potiskum-Maiduguri road in Azare Federal highway in Bauchi State. The JTF stated that the raid led to the recovery of some arms and ammunition, which include three AK 47 rifles and 42 rounds of ammunition. Meanwhile, a pressure group, the Northern Brotherhood Movement (NBM) has condemned the incessant bombings in the north, saying the development was giving Islam a bad name.

Gunmen Kill Two Chinese Workers in Yobe

Gunmen shot dead two Chinese construction workers in Damaturu, Yobe state on Wednesday, police and company officials said. The incident occurred when some unidentified gunmen trailed them to the construction yard and opened fire, an official with the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation said. The company official said four Chinese engineers had arrived at the Benishek site from their base in nearby Damaturu on Wednesday before the attack. Although no group has claimed responsibility, Nigeria's northeast has seen scores of deadly gun and bomb attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram.

Gunmen Kill Baby, Parents in Jos

A man, identified as Yakubu Illiya, his wife and two of their children were murdered by gunmen in Chaha District of Jos South LGA on Monday night. The reportedly gunmen invaded the home of Illiya at about 10pm, shooting him, his wife, his 10-year-old son and one-year-old daughter. Illiya’s 14-year-old daughter, Alice, who was also shot during the attack, is the only survivor. Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Pam Ayuba, who confirmed the incident, described it as “a dastardly act”.

Man Jailed 25 Years for Fake Currency Production

One Abdullahi Bello, who was accused of producing fake currency, has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had slammed a five-count charge of conspiracy, dealing in and possession of counterfeit Nigerian currency on the convict. The convict, who pleaded guilty to all the charges, is to spend five years in jail on each count, but the sentences are to run concurrently. Bello had earlier pleaded guilty when he was arraigned on October 31, prompting the judge to adjourn his ruling on the sentence till Friday, November 2, 2012.

Police Corporal Loses 4 Children to Inferno

A police corporal, Jeremiah Yusuf, has lost four of his five children to fire outbreak which engulfed his residence as a result of the sudden restoration of light by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Tudun Wada area of Gusau, Zamfara State. Sympathisers, who rushed to the scene of the incident with the aim of rescuing the children who had been trapped inside the house, became helpless as the fire raged. The children were burnt beyond recognition. The police officer was able to escape with his three-year-old son. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command, Hassan Talba, confirmed the incident.

NSCDC Arrests Two for Theft

Men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Ogun State have arrested two suspects for allegedly stealing three laptop computers, cash and other items in Abeokuta. Other stolen items recovered from the suspects, Seun Ogundimu, 26, and Jelili Idowu, 30, include one LIFAN motorcycle, Sony digital camera and cash sum of N7,495. The NSCDC Public Relations Officer in the state, Kareem Olanrewaju said that the suspects were arrested following a tip-off by some members of the public. They were arrested when they failed to give satisfactory explanations about the items they were found with. The NSCDC spokesman stated that in the course of preliminary investigations the corps discovered that the items were stolen from a house the suspects allegedly burgled in the Onikolobo area of Abeokuta.

INTERNATIONAL

Suicide Bomber Kills 50 Syrian Security Men

About 50 Syrian security men were killed, on Monday, by an Islamist suicide bomber in Hama province, in what was considered as one of the bloodiest single attacks on President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in a 20-month-old uprising. The suicide bomber had targeted a rural development centre in Sahl al-Ghab in Hama province. Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the centre was used by security forces and pro-Assad militia as one of their biggest bases in the area. The Nusra Front, an al Qaeda-inspired group of ultra-orthodox Salafi Muslims, has claimed responsibility for several suicide bombings in Damascus and elsewhere in the past. Meanwhile, warplanes, tanks and artillery battered rebel-held parts of southern Damascus. Opposition activists said at least 10 people were killed there.

Obama Re-elected US President

President Barack Obama of the US, on Tuesday night won the US presidential election by trouncing his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, to secure another four years in the White House. While Romney won in several Republican strongholds, Obama won in several of the battleground states such as Ohio, New Hampshire, Florida, Iowa, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Obama had secured over 270 electoral votes. To win the US presidential election, a candidate needs 270 electoral votes. However, early results showed that Republicans are most likely to retain their majority in the House of Representatives, while the Democrats will hold on to their majority in the Senate.

Indonesian Police Kill Terror Suspect

Anti-terror police on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi have shot dead one suspected militant and arrested another in the district of Poso, police say. The suspects allegedly resisted arrest by throwing home-made bombs at the police when they swooped before dawn in the jungle village of Kayamaya. Poso was notorious for violence between Muslims and Christians a decade ago. On Wednesday, police killed another suspected militant, arrested two and found explosives in Poso. Security forces have been battling Islamist militants since the 2002 bombings in Bali, which killed 202 people, many of them foreign tourists.

Brother of Syrian Parliament Speaker Shot Dead

Gunmen killed the brother of Syria's parliament speaker in a hail of bullets as he drove to work in Damascus on Tuesday, as the international envoy for Syria warned the country could become another Somalia. Mohammed Osama Laham, the brother of Parliament Speaker Jihad Laham, became the latest victim of a wave of assassinations targeting Syrian officials, army officers and other prominent supporters of President Bashar Assad's regime. Laham was gunned down in the Damascus neighbourhood of Midan. The killing came a day after some of the most intense fighting in Damascus in months as rebels wage a civil war to unseat Assad.

Syrian Rebels Attack Key Airbase

Rebels in Syria say they have launched a major offensive to capture a key airbase in the north of the country. The attack comes a day before a crucial opposition meeting in Doha, Qatar. It also follows the apparent murder of a number of Syrian troops by rebels, which drew international condemnation. Separately, Israel said three Syrian tanks had entered the demilitarised buffer zone in the Golan Heights to tackle rebel fighters, prompting an Israeli complaint to the UN forces overseeing a truce in the area. The attack on Taftanaz took place as dawn broke, with five different units of rebel fighters opening fire with multiple rocket launchers, mortars and other weaponry.

Israelis Join Rescue after Ghana Mall Collapse

A team from Israel is expected in Ghana on Thursday to help search for survivors or victims after the collapse of a six-storey mall, with three deaths confirmed and 51 people rescued alive so far. Ghana’s presidency announced the arrival of the 18-strong team from Israel in a statement following Wednesday’s collapse of the Melcom shopping centre in the capital Accra, which sparked desperate rescue attempts. The statement said that at least 51 people had so far been rescued alive from the rubble. Police had said some 50 employees worked at the building, but it has not been determined how many people were inside at the time of the collapse, which was said to have occurred ahead of opening time.

Pirates Arrested after Deadly Firefight

About four suspected Somali pirates were flown to the Netherlands Tuesday to stand trial after they opened fire on Dutch marines off the Somali coast last month, the Dutch defence ministry said. The firefight, according to reports, happened when marines from the Dutch amphibian transport HMS Rotterdam held a routine inspection of a fishing dhow 400 metres (yards) off the coastline. The dhow caught fire and members of a crew being held hostage as well as suspected pirates jumped overboard. Marines later rescued 25 people, of whom six were fingered as pirates by Pakistani and Iranian sailors who had been taken hostage off the Oman coast a few weeks earlier. More than 1,000 alleged pirates are awaiting trial or have been sentenced in 20 countries.

ECOWAS Army Chiefs Adopt Intervention in Mali

West African army chiefs have adopted a military plan to expel Islamic rebels from northern Mali, as one extremist group pushes for a negotiated solution to the crisis. The military blueprint will be studied by regional heads of state for approval before being presented to the UN Security Council on November 26. The details of the plan as adopted by the military chiefs have not been made public. The UN wants clarification on the composition of the proposed force, the level of participation from the various West African nations, the financing of the operation and the military means to carry it out. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Ansar Dine, one of the groups occupying the vast arid zone, called for all armed movements to halt hostilities and join in peace talks.

Bomb Kills Anti-Taliban Politician in Pakistan

A bomb attack in the north-west Pakistani city of Buner has killed a local anti-Taliban politician and three of his guards. Fateh Khan, an ex-leader of the secular Awami National Party, was killed as his car left a petrol station. It was not immediately clear if he was victim of a suicide attack or of a bomb placed on a motorcycle. Security forces largely freed Buner from the control of Taliban militants three years ago. District police chief, Jehanzeb Khan, said that a suicide bomber had blown himself up in front of Mr Khan’s vehicle, killing the politician and his guards. Up to five people were also injured in the attack.

Suicide Bombers Attack Somali Restaurant

Two suicide bombers have blown themselves up trying to enter a restaurant in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing at least one person. They had targeted a restaurant known as The Village in the Hodan district of the city but were stopped by guards, one of whom was killed. The attackers opened fire on the guards, a local resident told Reuters. Suicide bombers attacked another restaurant belonging to the same owner in September, killing 14 people. Such attacks are fairly common in the city, as are targeted assassinations, a BBC Africa analyst reports. Some are carried out by the Islamist group al-Shabab, which controls much of the country.

Top Syrian Army Officers Defect to Turkey

Twenty-six military officers, including two generals, defected from the Syrian army to Turkey overnight. It was the biggest mass desertion of senior soldiers from President Bashar al-Assad's forces in months. The officers, among them two generals, 11 colonels, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors, four captains, and five lieutenants, crossed into Turkey's border province of Hatay with their families and other foot soldiers, making a total of 71 people, state-run Anatolian news agency said. Defections of high-ranking officers to Turkey occurred almost daily during the summer but have since slowed. Anatolian also reported that 23 wounded Syrians, including some women, had crossed into the nearby Turkish village of Besaslan and the Cilvegozu border gate from Syria overnight for medical treatment.