Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 16

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Bodies of Slain Policemen Recovered

The bodies of 10 slain policemen that were ambushed in the creeks of Bayelsa state have been recovered, while one who was held captive was released. The bodies, which were in various stages of decomposition, were recovered Tuesday by a combined team of soldiers and policemen along the creeks and waterways of the Azuzama community in Southern Ijaw LGA of the state. Twelve policemen were said to have been killed in the attack, but the figure was reduced after it was confirmed that the 12th policeman was only taken hostage and has since been released. The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it carried out the attack in furtherance of its threat to resume hostilities following the conviction of its leader, Henry Okah, by a South African court for terrorism-related offences. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, ordered the immediate arrest of the killers, saying that said the legacy he would give to the slain personnel was to find their killers and bring them to book.

Security Operatives Discover 23 Illegal Refineries in Anambra

A joint operation of the Nigerian Army and Navy has discovered 23 illegal “refineries” on the River Niger coastline in Ogbakuba Community in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.Gen Ashimiyu Olaniyi, on Monday, expressed surprise at the level of the illicit activities on the River Niger. Olaniyi said that the army would not relent in its effort to stamp out illegal refineries and bunkering activities within the South-East and South-South regions. Lt.Col. Bayode Adetoro, the Commanding Officer, 14 Field Engineers’ Regiment, Onitsha, who led the operations, said that the feat was achieved through the strategic mandate of the engineers’ regiment and assistance of the navy. Commanding Officer of Naval Out-post Ogbaru, Captain Abdullahi Ahmed, said that the army and the navy would continue to collaborate to stamp out bunkering in the River Niger waterways.

Three Arrested for Murder of 11 Policemen in Bayelsa

Following the killing of 11 policemen by aggrieved militants in the creeks and waterways of Bayelsa State, the police in conjunction with operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF), on Wednesday, arrested three members of the group who allegedly carried out the killing. The policemen, who were among a 50-man contingent deployed in Azuzama to provide security at the   burial of the mother of a repentant Niger Delta warlord, Kile Selky Torughedi, were killed in an ambush in Southern Ijaw LGA of the state. The bodies of 10 of the slain policemen were recovered Tuesday. THISDAY gathered that a team from the JTF, which was deployed in the dense mangrove rain forest of the delta, discovered the hideout of the militants during a patrol of the area. The militants were reportedly arrested after some feeble resistance during the early morning raid on their camp.

Police Rescue Babies Sold by Parents

The police in Abia state have arrested a man, who sold his six-month-old son for N350,000 in order to raise funds to procure visa to Greece. Abia State Commissioner of Police (CP), Usman Tilli, while disclosing this on Monday, noted that the three babies sold by their parents were all rescued in good health. He said a 20-year-old woman, had, on March 6, reported that her husband, Onyekachi Ekwelem, 26, had sold their son. Following the report, the CP said his men swooped into action and recovered the baby and handed him over to his mother in good health. In a similar incident, a mother sold her baby girl for N150,000 immediately after delivery with the connivance of the nurse who delivered her of the baby. In another baby trafficking incident, the CP said a baby boy was recovered after the father, Oluchukwu Ogidi, had reported on March 16, that his wife, Kelechi, had connived with a doctor and sold their baby. All suspects have been arrested, alongside three other pregnant women, who were being harboured to sell their babies.

Akwa Ibom Village Protest over Police Killing of Kinsman

The people of Ikot Abiyak village in Itu LGA of Akwa Ibom State are on the warpath with the police over the killing of their kinsman, Otobong Victor Esara. They have fingered the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for the area, Mathew Ado, as being the killer. He was allegedly killed on April 8 by a police team deployed in the village to arrest a youth leader in the village, Eyo Okon Akpan, who was accused of committing assault in a neighbouring village of Ikot Ada Akpan. Two out of the three policemen who went for the arrest are said to be in detention. The people of Ikot Abiyak have petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Gwadabe, complaining of the murder. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Etim Dickson, however, absolved the DPO of complicity in Oto’s death. He said the police went to the village to arrest some hoodlums but while on their way, the policemen were attacked and in the struggle one of the hoodlums was shot and he later died from gunshot injuries.

Police Arrest Man over Rape of Daughters

A 58-year-old man from Agbura community, Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State was, on Thursday, arrested by the police for allegedly impregnating two of his daughters and attempted to rape his third daughter. It was gathered that the arrest was initiated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs. Pulu Zifawei. The 14-year-old student of the Community Secondary School, Agbura, was said to have reported the sexual harassment by her father to the school counselor, who then reported the case to the Ministry of Women Affairs which alerted the police. The suspect was arrested and detained at the Azikoro Police Station. One of the daughters, 23, was said to have conceived twice for the father but mysteriously lost the babies at birth. The 21-year-old son of the suspect said he became aware of his father’s shameful acts at the age of 12. He said the father had also inflicted machete cuts on him and his elder brother for daring to challenge his actions.

Five Killed in Cross River Communal Crisis

Five persons are feared killed in fresh hostilities between Efraya and Ajasor communities in Etung LGA of Cross River State. It was learnt that the two communities have over the years been fighting over a disputed parcel of land, resulting in the loss of several lives. The warring communities are alleged to have trespassed into the disputed land, which is said to belong to the state government. Some residents of the area are now taking refuge in neighbouring communities having been forced to flee their homes as a result of the bloody dispute. A member of the House of Assembly, Mr. Clement Okongo, expressed shock at the wanton destruction of lives and property over a parcel of land that does not belong to either the two warring communities. To prevent further escalation of the crisis, security operatives have been deployed to the area while the state government is also reportedly making moves to peacefully resolve the dispute.

Girlfriend Stabs Corps Member in Ebonyi

A corps member, Emmanuel Oyelara serving in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi state was, last weekend, stabbed in his left eye by one of his girlfriends for allegedly having an affair with another lady within the area. It was gathered that a fight broke-out when one Happiness and Maria met in his house on the faithful day. The Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, Sylvester Igbo, confirmed that the two ladies had been arrested over the incident as investigation were on to unravel the remote causes that made Happiness to stab the victim on his left eye having been aware that the corps member had difficulty in seeing with his right eye.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Soldiers Killed, Wounded in Clash with Gunmen in Delta State

Security operatives have reportedly swooped on Kokori and neighbouring areas in Ethiope East LGA of Delta State in search of unidentified gunmen who allegedly killed a soldier in the area last weekend. Sources said one soldier was killed and two others seriously wounded during exchange of gunfire between a team of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and bandits suspected to be kidnappers in their hideout in the area. The soldiers were said to have trailed members of a suspected notorious criminal gang to Kokori Town where eventually there was an exchange of gunfire with the gangsters. The police had said the bandits were chased into Kokori area through Ughelli axis, with one of the suspects reportedly killed in a gun encounter. The Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion Effurun, Lt-Col Ifeanyi Otu, said efforts had been intensified to fish out the criminals and bring them to book.

Baby Selling Syndicate Smashed in Asaba

A syndicate, which specializes in luring pregnant teenage girls eager to deliver their babies under cover and thereafter selling the newborns to ritualists and childless couples, has been smashed in Asaba, Delta State. A middle-aged woman, alleged to be running an illegal maternity centre at a camp in Oduke, has been arrested, while a nurse and a medical doctor attached to the home remain on the run. It was gathered that police have intensified manhunt for the runaway medical doctor and nurse involved in the deal. It was also gathered that upon delivery of such babies depending on the sex of the child, they are sold for between N400,000 and N500,000 each.

Thunder Strike 2 Traders Dead in Asaba

Two traders and three goats were struck dead by thunderbolt at Niger Bridge Head market in Asaba, last weekend. The incident, which took place on Friday evening, threw the market into pandemonium as traders and buyers ran for dear lives following the deafening thunder accompanied by lighting. Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of the police station by the Bridge Head, Ngozi Ezeabata, confirmed the death of the traders.

Lecturers Threatens Strike over Colleague’s Abduction

The Delta State University (DELSU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is threatening to down tools if one of the members, Dr. Mercy Mokobia, who was kidnapped at Obiaruku is not immediately set free. Mokobia was forcefully whisked away by armed hoodlums on Tuesday after robbing her, her husband and the entire household of cash, telephone sets and other valuables at midnight. Three days after her abduction, her whereabouts remain unknown, even though the kidnappers have since established contact through her pastor, whom they directed to tell the distraught husband to procure a new telephone handset to enable them negotiate with him. The DELSU ASUU Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Mordi, reiterated the union’s resolve to stop work if she was not released.

UBTH Conducts Mass Burial for 70 Accident Victims

The Management of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, has conducted a mass burial for 70 accident victims. UBTH Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Kehinde Ibitoye, said the victims were involved in auto-crashes which occurred on Friday, April 5, at Ugbogui village on the Benin-Ore expressway. The accident involved a luxury bus, a fuel tanker and a trailer belonging to Dangote Group of Companies. She said the only accident victim who was brought alive to the hospital also died, noting that no passenger survived the accident.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Driver Rapes 15-Year-Old Housemaid

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested a driver, Olusegun Ajayi, for allegedly raping a 15-year-old housemaid in Arepo, Ogun State. The NSCDC authorities said the suspect had canal knowledge of the girl which caused her to bleed for two days. Ajayi, however, said his act was not rape since the victim consented. The suspect, who claimed to be a devout Christian, said he did not know the victim prior to the incident. He said, “On Saturday night, he decided to help the girl, who was stranded outside as her employers had locked her out. He took her to an uncompleted building on the street, and stayed with her, during which he had carnal knowledge of her. The suspect said he did not know that the victim was a minor. He added that his predicament was the handiwork of the devil.

Two Killed as Police, Train Hikers Clash

Two persons, among them a pregnant woman, were killed, yesterday, during a clash between policemen and train hikers along the Oshodi/Agege railway line, in Lagos. The pregnant woman was said to have been hit by a hard object thrown by one of the hikers, while the other person, also with unknown identity, was crushed to death while trying to escape. The hikers have reportedly become violent in recent times, as they now haul stones and dangerous objects at individuals who attempt to take their photographs. Trouble reportedly started after the hikers started hauling stones at policemen, on reaching PWD, with a view to escaping arrest. This caused a stampede as everyone scampered for safety to avoid being hit by dangerous objects. In the ensuing stampede, the pregnant woman was said to have been hit by a hard object.

NAFDAC Arrests Fake Drug Importer

A member of a drug cloning syndicate, Maduabuchi Abuzu, has been arrested by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Lagos, for importing fake drugs into the country. Abuzu, for at least two years, has been on NAFDAC’s watch list of fake drug importers, and was arrested in his home in Iganmu, Lagos. Fake drugs worth over N20m were discovered and machines used for packaging them were found in his home at the time of his arrest. The Director of Enforcement, NAFDAC, Mr. Garba Macdonald, confirmed the arrest. The suspect is assisting NAFDAC in its investigations, a source close to the agency said.

Gunmen in Police Uniform Kill Two in Lagos

Gunmen in Police uniform at the Daleko Bridge in Mushin area of Lagos, Thursday, went on rampage killing two people, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the ensuing melee. It was gathered that one of the victims, a foreigner, Mr. Santos Korie, who was shot while driving a Toyota Highlander sport utility vehicle (SUV), later died from gunshot wounds while he was being rushed to a nearby hospital. But it could not be immediately ascertained whether the gunmen were assassins in police uniform or real police. According to eyewitnesses, the assailants stormed the area in a commercial bus and released hails of bullets into the air while one of the gunmen particularly targeted Korie who was hit in the chest by bullets. The state police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said efforts were being made to ascertain whether the gunmen were police officers or hired killers.

Task Force Arrests 251 Aliens in Lagos

A combined team of security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy (NN), Nigerian Army (NA) and the State Security Service (SSS), Tuesday, raided and arrested 251 aliens in Lagos. The arrests came as part of the stringent security measures put in place to checkmate the recent plot by suspected terrorists to bomb some landmarks in the state. It was gathered that the 251 aliens were picked up during a raid on the Gatankowa Market at Abule-Egba area of the state in the wee hours of Thursday. Confirming the operation, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ngozi Braide, said the raid owed its success to the collaboration between the different security agencies.

Several Injured, Vehicles Vandalised in Lagos Violence

No fewer than 100 vehicles were vandalised and many injured when street urchins, on reprisal mission, invaded four streets in Akoka and Pedro in Somolu LGA of Lagos State. The hoodlums were said to have arrived the area through the Somolu Market pretending to be holding a candlelight procession for a man, identified simply as Old Skool. Old Skool was allegedly stabbed repeatedly by some youths during a rally organised by the Somolu LG Chairman, Gbolahan Bago-Stowe to mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Solanke Street, on Easter Sunday. It was learnt that more than 70 hoodlums stormed the streets between 10pm on Sunday and 1am on Monday, destroying vehicles parked on the streets and inflicting injuries on many residents. The spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident.

NDLEA Discovers Drugs in Melon, Suspect Arrested

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled a plot to smuggle 40.255kilogramme of methamphetamine to South Africa on board a South African Airline flight.  Officials of the agency detected the consignment at the cargo section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. A total of 41 parcels of methamphetamine were found hidden inside ground melon carefully packed with cosmetics and provisions. According to the NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, who led the discovery, the drug was found in a bag of provisions and cosmetics. Other items such as gala, biscuits, milk, body cream and food ingredients were found also in the package to divert attention. The suspect, Ihedioha Chidi, who is a patent medicine dealer, said that he was given the sum of N450,000 to send the consignment.

GENERAL

Residents Flee Plateau Town as Death Toll Climbs to 40

Over 200 residents, including women and children, have fled Wase town in Wase LGA of Plateau State, following the bloody communal clash between the Hausa/Fulani and the Tarok. The death toll in the Monday attacks on Zango and Wase reportedly rose above 40. At least 25 persons were said to have been killed last weekend in the clashes between the communities. A source said there had been killings in the area after the Monday crisis leading to more deaths. He put the current toll at 40, adding that the figure could be higher as more corpses were being discovered. Meanwhile, the senator representing Plateau South Senatorial district, Victor Lar, has appealed to members of the warring communities to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue. Spokesman of the Special Task Force (STF), Salisu Mustapha confirmed the attacks.

11 Injured, 2 Killed in Renewed Anambra, Kogi Clash

About 11 people were, on Monday, wounded in a renewed gun battle between Aguleri-Otu in Anambra State and Echonwa/Ideke communities in Kogi State over the ownership of the land, where Orient Petroleum Refinery was built. The Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor on Security, Col George Molokwu, who confirmed the incident, however did not confirm the casualty figures. But the Chairman of Anambra East LGA, Hon. Chiedu Obidigwe, said three people were hospitalised and eight others injured from gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts by the Anambra and Kogi State governments to ensure that normalcy returned to the troubled border communities of the two states, heavy shooting continued in the oil-rich Okpeze in Anambra East LGA of Anambra State, on Thursday. Several lives have been lost in the area in the last two weeks and property worth millions of naira lost following violent clash in the disputed area. This came even as the people of Aguleri said that two of their kinsmen who have been missing since the renewed fracas a fortnight ago, have been confirmed dead.

Gunmen Kill 4 Policemen, 3 Civilians in Yobe Police Station Attack

Four policemen and three civilians were, on Wednesday, killed while two others suspected to be policemen sustained injuries when some gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram laid ambush to the Tarmuwa Divisional Police Headquarters. The gunmen razed the police station using petrol bombs and other Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The three civilians killed were trapped and subsequently hit by stray bullets when trying to flee the area during the midnight attack. It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the town midnight, Wednesday, in a convoy of more than 10 vehicles. The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sanusi Rufai, confirmed that the attack left four policemen dead and two others seriously wounded. Yobe State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam has declared a curfew from 6pm to 7am following the attack.

300 Houses Affected by Lead Poisoning in Zamfara

At least 300 houses have been discovered to be contaminated with lead poison in Bagega Village of Anka LGA of Zamfara State. This was disclosed by the Executive Director of Community Emergency Response Initiative (CERI), Mr Attah Benson, during a one day workshop on Mining, held at Fulbe Villa Hotel on Wednesday. According to him, unless serious attention was given to the evacuation of the contaminated soil, more and more children would be vulnerable to the attack. He said the effect of lead poisoning in most of the places visited by his organisation was an eye sore, saying that many women, including pregnant women and children, had fallen victims and eventually ended up with one form of deformity or the other. Benson maintained that the governments had not done enough to complement the effort of these International agencies in stemming the tide of lead poisoning.

Detained Journalists Sue Police for N10m

Two journalists with the Leadership Newspapers, detained by the police on Monday were released on Tuesday evening. The Leadership Group News Editor, Tony Amoekedo, and a correspondent, Chibuzo Ukaibe, were detained alongside two others at the Force Headquarters following a story their newspaper published on “a presidential directive” to attack key opposition political parties’ leaders. The duo had also filed a suit against the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, claiming the sum of N10m for breach of their fundamental rights. While, two others arrested with them were released were released on Monday night, Amoekedo and Ukaibe were detained overnight and released on Tuesday. The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigerian has condemned the detention of the journalists.

22 Killed in Deadly in Yobe Bus Crash

No fewer than 22 persons were feared killed on Monday evening when a commercial bus crashed into a construction firm’s vehicle on the Potiskum-Kano Road at Dazigau Village in Yobe State. The bus had 20 passengers on board from Kano to Maiduguri when the driver lost control and rammed into a truck. The Yobe Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC), Shehu Umar, said the crash occurred at Dazigau, seven kilometres to Potiskum, when the 18-seater bus crashed into a truck at about 6pm. According to him, the FRSC rescue team could not reach the scene due to security challenges on the Maiduguri-Kano Road, but reports indicated that all the passengers, including the driver, died on the spot, and their bodies have been taken to the Potiskum General Hospital morgue for identification by their family members. The FRSC boss attributed the crash to “over-speeding to beat the 6pm in the state.

FG Vows to Stop Further Attacks on Nigerians in Bakassi

The federal government, on Thursday, condemned the attack on Nigerians living in Bakassi Peninsula by Cameroonian gendarmes, and assured the people that it was taking measures to protect them from further attacks. Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, at the end of the meeting of the Presidential Committee on Bakassi and Rights of the Displaced People, assured that the government would ensure that the belligerence on the part of the gendarmes is checked. Vice-President Namadi Sambo directed the committee to ensure that it submitted its final report this month on the relocation of the Bakassi people. Some 17 persons were feared killed and about 1,900 displaced when the Cameroonian gendarmes attacked Nigerians living in the oil-rich peninsula, in their village, Efut Obot Ikot.

Air Force Acquires Boeing Aircraft to Airlift Troops

The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) in its continuous quest to complement its operations and build its airlift capability as a strategy to enhance military effectiveness in support of United Nation and African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Africa has acquired a new range of aircraft to its fleet; a Boeing 737-500 series for airlifting troops. The Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Obada, inaugurated the aircraft on Thursday at 209 Executive Airlift Group Hanger, in Abuja. Obada commended NAF’s efforts at strengthening its air fleet to becoming one of the best in Africa and the world. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, assured that with additional aircraft and increased capacity, it could only imply “that where ever NAF is on ground, safety is guaranteed.”

EFCC Re-arraigns 7 over N46bn Police Pension Fund Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, re-arraigned a suspended permanent secretary, Atiku Abubakar Kigo, and six others for allegedly stealing an estimated N46 billion police pension funds. They were arraigned before Justice Hussain Baba of an Abuja High Court on an amended 18-count charge for criminal breach of trust and conspiracy involving the sum of N46 billion. One of the suspects, who was absent when the other suspects were previously arraigned, Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang, took her plea on Wednesday. However, following the public outcry that greeted the overly lenient sentence given to one of the suspects, the EFCC decided to withdraw the prosecution of the remaining suspects from Justice Talba.

10 Policemen Demoted in Kano

The Kano State Police Command has disclosed that 10 police officers were demoted to various ranks over allegations of torture, corruption and unprofessional conducts. The spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr. Musa Magaji Majia, said that most of the cases were reported to the command Public Complaints Bureau. According to him, the command would not tolerate any form of corruption. The police spokesman stated that the officers demoted include two Inspectors to the rank of Sergeant; one Sergeant to Corporal; six Corporals to Constables and one Constable received a warning letter and was reprimanded. He explained that other officers were caught by the officer in charge of the X-Squad, which was directed to monitor police formations, like checkpoints in the state.

Gunmen Attack Borno Church

Some gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect last weekend, attacked the Ekliziyar Yan’uwa a Nigeriya (Church of Brethern), also known as EYN in Bulumkutu ward of Maiduguri, Borno State, injuring one policeman. The gunmen reportedly came in a tricycle when the congregation was listening to sermon from the pastor and thereafter opened fire on the JTF troops deployed in the church. The troops repelled the attack but a policeman was injured. An eyewitness said the gunmen, numbering about five, came on a tricycle and started shooting which he believed was targeted at the JTF security personnel attached to the church, but with the quick response from the JTF operatives, the gunmen had no other option than to flee from arrest. The JTF spokesman, Lt. Colonel Sagir Musa, confirmed the incident.

Speaker Warns against Misuse of State Pardon

Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Monday asked “state actors” to be careful in granting pardon to corrupt officials and other criminals. President Goodluck Jonathan recently granted ex-governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and others state pardon. Tambuwal’s caution came on the day the Head of delegation of the European Union, David MacRae, also appealed to the government to gauge the perception of the international community on the pardon granted Alamieyeseigha.

Police Recover Mutilated Female Corpse in Jos

Ritual killers, on Monday, struck in Jos, Plateau state, killing and removing the eyes and tongue of a young lady in Twanchit Village at Tudun Wada in the Jos South LGA. Residents who woke up to the ugly sight, said that the crime took place around 1am and that the victim could not be identified. They said, however, that the area had a lot of drinking spots that operated late into the night and that the assailants could have hidden under that to carry-out the crime. The corpse had no visible mark or injury an indication that the assailants had strangled her before plucking out her eyes and tongue. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adigun Salau, confirmed the incident but that details were still sketchy.

Fulani Herdsmen Attack Tiv Farmers, Kill Three

Three persons were reportedly killed in a fresh outbreak of bloody conflict between suspected Fulani herdsmen and native Tiv farmers at Yogbo village in Guma LGA of Benue State. The latest fighting in Yogbo is coming a year after a similar crisis in the same community between the farmers and herdsmen left over 45 persons dead. It was gathered that crisis broke out in Yogbo, last weekend when some herdsmen stormed the village at night, shooting sporadically and burning down houses, huts and farmland in the community. The Chairman of Guma LGA, Frank Adi, said he had already informed the security agencies in the state on the latest killing for necessary action to stem the ugly development.

INTERNATIONAL

5 Killed in Cairo Religious Clashes

One person has been killed and more than 20 injured in clashes outside Cairo's main cathedral following the funerals of four Coptic Christians killed in religious violence. Coptic mourners are said to have clashed with local residents, prompting Police to fire tear gas to break up the violence. Mourners inside the church had earlier chanted slogans against Egypt's Islamist President, Mohammed Morsi. Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Christian church, appealed for calm and the preservation of national unity. Clashes between Muslims and Coptic Christians have been seen numerous times. Police said five deaths -four Copts and one Muslim- occurred on Saturday in Khosous, after inflammatory symbols were drawn on an Islamic institute. The dispute escalated into a gun battle between Christian and Muslim residents, while Christian-owned shops were also attacked.

Kenyatta Sworn in as Kenya’s President

Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in as Kenyan president on Tuesday in Nairobi at the ceremony, which was the first of its kind since the country adopted a new constitution following deadly post-election riots in 2007. Many African heads of states attended the ceremony including President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria. Kenyatta, son of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, a hero of independence, took his oath with the same bible his father used. The peaceful transition of power has already helped rebuild Kenya’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, after the violence five years ago when 1,200 were killed. United States and European countries sent ambassadors to Kenyatta’s inauguration, a level of representation diplomats said was not unusual and in line with their contacts policy. Kenyatta, a 51-year-old former finance minister, whose family controls a sprawling business empire, campaigned heavily on his ability to deliver faster economic growth and help the poor.

Deadly Quake Kills 37 in South-West Iran

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 37 people and injured 850 in south-west Iran on Tuesday. Rescue teams have been sent to the affected area, but darkness is hampered rescue operations. However, the nuclear plant has not been affected and is working normally, officials have said. Some 10,000 people are thought to live in the affected area in more than 50 villages, two of which have reportedly been completely destroyed. Iran's seismological centre in Bushehr province registered the quake at a magnitude of 6.1. Tens of aftershocks struck within an hour. Rescuers in Iran, Thursday, finished searching for survivors. At least 20 people were rescued.

Man Shoots Dead 13 Dead in Serb Village

A veteran of the 1990s Balkan wars shot dead 13 people, including his mother, son and a two-year-old child in a dawn rampage through a small village in central Serbia on Tuesday. The man, identified by police as Ljubisa Bogdanovic, also shot his wife before turning the gun on himself. Both were in critical condition in hospital, police said. Most of the victims were shot in the head as they slept, according to police chief, Milorad Veljovic. He said the victims were relatives and neighbours of the man: six men, six women and a child in five houses. The motive for the killings, carried out with a semi-automatic 9-mm pistol shortly after 5am, was not known.

Zimbabwe Investigates Judge after Release of Rights Lawyer

A Zimbabwean judge who ordered police to free prominent human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa last month is being investigated for misconduct, state media reported on Friday. High Court Judge Charles Hungwe had also granted the country's anti-corruption commission a warrant to search the offices of three ministers from President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party in March. Opponents of ZANU-PF criticized the investigation into Hungwe as an attack on the independence of the judiciary. The state-owned newspaper said Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku had opened an inquiry into Hungwe over allegations he failed to sentence a man convicted of robbery and murder 10 years ago. Mtetwa who has won international awards for her defense of journalists and opposition politicians; was arrested on March 17 and accused of shouting at and taking pictures of police, who were searching the home of one of Tsvangirai's aides.

North Korea Warns Foreigners against Stay in South

North Korea, Tuesday, warned foreigners in South Korea to quit the country because they were at risk in the event of conflict between both nations. Soaring tensions on the peninsula have been fuelled by North Korean anger over the imposition of U.N. sanctions after its last nuclear arms test in February, creating one of the worst crises since the end of the Korean War in 1953. Earlier on Tuesday, North Korean labourers failed to turn up for work at a factory complex operated with South Korea, effectively shutting down the last major symbol of cooperation between the hostile neighbours. Few embassies in Seoul have advised their citizens to quit. The United States, which has also been threatened by Pyongyang, has said there were no imminent signs of threats to American citizens. Pyongyang has shown no sign of preparing its 1.2 million-strong army for war, indicating the threats could be partly intended for domestic purposes to bolster Kim jong-un, 30, the third in his family to lead the reclusive country.

30 Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Battle

At least 30 Pakistani soldiers and nearly 100 militants have been killed in fierce fighting in a remote, northwest valley following a ground offensive launched by the army, military officials said Monday. The army launched the offensive against the Pakistani Taliban and their allies in the Tirah Valley, penultimate Friday, after weeks of fighting between rival militant groups forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee the area. The valley is located in Khyber, part of Pakistan's semiautonomous tribal region, which is the main sanctuary for Taliban militants in the country. The army has launched scores of operations against the Taliban in the tribal region in recent years, but certain areas like the Tirah Valley have remained outside their control, reports indicate. The Taliban have remained a serious threat and continue to launch attacks throughout the northwest and other parts of the country with frightening regularity.

Ex-UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher Dies

Former UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher has died at 87 following a stroke, her spokesman, Lord Bell, has said. Lord Bell said: "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning." Baroness Thatcher was Conservative prime minister from 1979 to 1990. She was the first woman to hold the post. Her family is expected to make a further statement later, reports the BBC. Baroness Thatcher, born Margaret Roberts, became the Conservative MP for Finchley, north London in 1959, retiring from the Commons in 1992. Having been education secretary, she successfully challenged former Prime Minister Edward Heath for her party's leadership in 1975. Her burial is scheduled for April 17.

Deadly Car Bomb Rocks Damascus

A car bomb has exploded in the centre of Syria's capital Damascus, killing at least 15 people and wounding 53 others in a busy residential and commercial area. At least 70,000 people have died since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began just over two years ago. Syrian state media said a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives between Sabaa Bahrat Square and Shahbander Street, a busy area of Damascus that is home to the country's central bank, the finance ministry. Security forces and the army moved in quickly to prevent people from approaching. This is the second large car bomb attack in Damascus in recent months. At least 53 people were killed and more than 200 wounded in an attack on the ruling Baath party headquarters on 22 February.

US Senators Push for Military Aid for Syrian Rebels

Some US senators, on Thursday, called on the government to shift its policy and provide lethal military assistance to rebels waging a civil war against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It is time for the US to do more to oust Assad and end a two-year conflict in which more than 70,000 people have been killed and millions displaced, they said at a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sentiment is growing in the United States and internationally that more should be done in Syria. Senator John McCain has long called for the United States to provide military assistance, including a no-fly zone, in Syria to assist the rebels. The US has stepped up humanitarian aid, but has stopped short of providing lethal assistance. Proponents of U.S. military assistance say it will counteract the influence of Islamic militants, ensure chemical weapons do not end up in the wrong hands and help to counter refugees' anger at Washington for doing too little.

South Korea, US on Missile Watch after North’s Threat

South Korea and the United States were on high alert for a North Korean missile test-launch on Thursday. Despite recent threats to attack US bases and the South, North Korea started to welcome a stream of visitors for Monday's celebrations marking the birthday of its founder Kim Il-sung. North Korea has stationed as many as five medium-range missiles on its east coast, according to defence assessments by the US and South Korea, possibly in readiness for a test-launch that would demonstrate its ability to hit U.S. bases on Guam. There were few signs of alarm in South Korea, and financial markets shrugged off the risk of conflict with stocks posting a third day of gains. South Korean President Park Geun-hye met foreign businessmen on Thursday and reassured them the country was safe and was working closely with the United States and China, the North's major diplomatic ally.

15 militants, One Soldier Killed in Pakistani Battle

Fifteen militants and one soldier were killed on Thursday when the Pakistani military mounted another operation in a week of fighting designed to seize control of a remote but strategic valley in the northwest, the army said. The military has faced fierce resistance from the Taliban and its allies in the Tirah Valley in the Khyber region since troops set out to dislodge insurgents from strategically important heights above the valley six days ago, reports Reuters. Pakistani military officials say insurgents use the valley as a base camp that enables them to carry out raids in other semi-autonomous tribal areas near the Afghan border. On Tuesday, the military said 23 Pakistani soldiers and 110 militants had been killed in four days of fierce fighting in the area.

Syria Military Air Strikes Target Civilians

The Syrian Air Force is carrying out both deliberate air strikes against civilians and indiscriminate attacks, the Human Rights Watch (HRW), has warned. HRW says it visited 52 sites in north-western Syria, documenting 59 such unlawful attacks. It points out that both types of attacks - estimated to have killed thousands - are serious violations of international law. HRW says measures by the UN, such as targeted sanctions, an arms embargo and the referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court, are urgently needed. In dozens of cases, HRW found that, "despite high civilian casualties, damage to opposition headquarters and other structures was minimal and there were no casualties among opposition fighters". Four defectors told HRW that commanders ordered strikes on urban areas - despite being unable to take adequate measures to protect civilians - "in part to instil fear in the civilian population in opposition strongholds, and also to deprive the opposition of its support".

Militants Kill 13 Afghan Troops in Attack on Army Post

Scores of heavily armed Taliban militants killed 13 Afghan soldiers in fierce clashes on Friday after storming an army post in the east of the country near the Pakistan border, police say. More than 100 militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and guns launched the attack in the Nari district of Kunar province, attacking the post from three directions before dawn. The attack was finally repelled after several hours when Afghan military and police reinforcements arrived. One soldier was severely injured, police said. Defence Ministry spokesman, General Mohammad Zaher Azimi, confirmed the attack, but said that exact casualty figures were not available. Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed responsibility for the assault, saying the militants had seized all weapons and ammunition from the remote post. He added that 15 soldiers had been killed.