Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 33

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Corps Member's Hand Chopped off in Bayelsa

A female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member posted to the Obuah community in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Folakemi Akinbode, was on Tuesday attacked by suspected cultists, who severed her hand with machete. The attack on  Akinbode, a 26-year-old Ondo State indigene and Batch 'A' corps member, came barely a few month after several thousands of youths in the state claimed to have renounced cultism in order to benefit from the amnesty on cultists and cultism declared by Governor Seriake Dickson. Akinbode was attacked at about 8.30pm near the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobori by two machete-wielding young men, who after severing her hand, fled on a commercial motorcycle. Nothing was collected from her. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Alex Akhigbe, said though no arrest had been made, but operatives had been deployed to track down the attackers.

Rivers Sends 113 Non-indigenes Back to Their State

The Rivers State Government has sent back about 113 beggars and lunatics removed from the streets of Port Harcourt, to the states. The Rivers State Government warned that it would soon embark on another removal exercise. The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Mina Jamabo, said out of the 113 beggars, destitute and lunatics removed from the streets, some had been taken to the state’s rehabilitation centres for treatment. Jamabo said non-indigenes had since been repatriated to their various states, while the indigenes would be treated by the government until they were fit to re-unite with their families.

Army Officer Jailed Seven Years for Fraud

The General Court Martial (GCM) of the Nigerian Army, Tuesday, sentenced a former Aide-de-Camp to the former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Andrew Azazi, Lieutenant Colonel RA Ahangba to seven years imprisonment for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N150 million from the Bayelsa State Government in 2011. Ahangba was convicted on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence and conduct of prejudice to service discipline. Chaired by the President of the GCM, Brigadier General Edward Nze and the Judge Advocate, Captain Chukwudi Okonkwo, the court held that the convict had obtained the money from the Bayelsa State Government to help facilitate votes for the former Governor of the state, Timipre Sylva in the 2011 gubernatorial election. However, Nze said the decision of the court was subject to superior authority which in this case is the Army Headquarters, adding that the officer serving the sentence automatically means he is dismissed from the force.

Gay Pastor Arrested in Aba

The Aba Police Area Command has arrested a 40-year-old Prophet/Pastor, Benjamin Ndubuisi, for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 23-year-old man. Investigations revealed that the prophet has been involved in the act with the victim since he engaged him as a worker in his church. Trouble started for the prophet when his victim, Ndukwe, took ill two weeks ago and worried by his continued deteriorating health condition, confessed to his family about the affair between him and the prophet. Residents of the area hinted that Ndubuisi, who is a prophet in one of the white garment churches in Ogbor Hill, engaged his victim as a worker in the church as a ploy to always have him around to satisfy his sexual urge. The gay prophet is alleged to have administered oath to Ndukwe to stop him from divulging the details of the love affair between them to his relatives and members of the church. When the suspect was arraigned in court, he pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N200, 000 with a surety in like sum.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

EFCC Arrests Man with 30 ATM Cards, Signed Cheques

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested one Kingsley Mudi over alleged ATM fraud. It was learnt that Mudi was caught on August 2, 2013 at Fidelity Bank ATM in Warri, Delta State. EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said 30 ATM cards of different banks were also found on him. EFCC said Mudi, who claimed to be a Disc Jockey and an operator of a barbing saloon, “has volunteered useful information. He added, “He will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”

Police Arraign Millionaire’s Wife, Lawyer over Forgery

The Police in Edo State have arraigned a 46-year-old millionaire housewife, Mercy Sheidun; her lawyer, Samuel Urhoghide; and one Jonah Sojah before an Oredo magistrate’s court for alleged forgery of a will. Her husband, the late Kola Sheidun, was the pioneer Managing Director of Okpella Cement factory in the defunct Bendel State. The accused persons, who were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and forgery, pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence. According to police charge sheet, the accused persons on August 22, 1997 at 3, Isibor Street, off Murtala Mohammed Way in Benin City, allegedly conspired among themselves to commit felony. The prosecutor, Inspector Osaretin Ogiehor, in the charge sheet told the court that the accused persons “did forge a testament instrument to wit; a will purported to have been made by the late Sir Kola Sheidun” and thereby committed an offence.

4 Arrested over Attempt to Dump Toxic Waste in Delta

Four truck drivers have been arrested over alleged attempt to dump toxic waste within the Kwale axis of Delta State. It was gathered that the arrested persons were intercepted along Ogwashi-Uku/Kwale road while conveying the suspected toxic waste substance in their trucks to the destination. It was further gathered that following the intervention of police, in collaboration with some community leaders, the suspects were arrested. The state police spokesman, Lucky Uyabeme, said that the truck drivers were arrested on Monday evening with suspected toxic waste. The arrest was made possible through the effort of our (police) patrol team on routine patrol duty. The vehicles have been impounded and investigation is on, he added.

Teachers Protest Kidnap of Colleagues in Edo State

Teachers in Ovia North- East LGA of Edo State, on Tuesday, took to the streets of Benin City to protest the abduction of three of their colleagues. Three teachers, Patience Osadolor, Momodu Aisha and Patience Oroghene, were reportedly abducted at gunpoint in Orhogbua Primary School, Ekenwan village, during school hours last week Tuesday. The teachers stormed the Benin secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to register their disdain to what they described as the plight of teachers in the state. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) chairman in the council, Nero Edema, said it was unimaginable that primary school teachers have become targets for kidnappers in the state, blaming Governor Oshiomhole for giving the impression that they (teachers) were well fed, even though they had not been paid salaries of June and July. Meanwhile the Edo State government has given the assurance that efforts are on-going to secure the release of the three abducted teachers.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Three Arrested over Burial of 18-Year-Old in Self-Killing

The police in Ondo State have arrested three persons at Oriokuta Community in Akoko South-east LGA for allegedly burying an 18-year-old boy, Sanmi Kehinde, who reportedly killed himself with his father’s gun. The deceased was said to have shot himself last Wednesday after he climbed the ceiling to carry his father’s gun, which was loaded with bullets in company of his friend. Immediately his friend left the scene, it was also learnt, people heard a heavy gunshot and on rushing to the scene, they met Sanmi in the pool of his own blood. The family hurriedly buried the deceased without informing security agents. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the Ondo State Command, Wole Ogodo, said the suspects were arrested because the family of the deceased did not make any attempt to report the case of self-killing to the police before hurriedly burying him. According to the police spokesman, the police had commenced investigation to unravel the circumstance that could lead to the death of the teenager, adding that the police was still awaiting the autopsy report to move forward on the investigation.

Policeman Mobbed to Death for Killing Trader

The Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigations into the killing of a police corporal, Ado Ayuba, who was allegedly lynched in Suru Alaba area after he allegedly killed a trader. Ayuba was beaten to death by an irate mob for allegedly killing a trader, Mustapha Mohammed, on July 30. It was learnt that Ayuba and another policeman were deployed to the scene to chase away traders who had blocked a portion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, with their wares, when things went wrong. The traders reportedly overpowered the policemen and in an attempt to protect himself and his colleague, Ayuba opened fire into the crowd and killed a trader (Mohammed). Ayuba’s colleague immediately fled, leaving him alone with the hoodlums, who seized Ayuba’s gun and beat him to death. Soldiers arrived at the scene and attempted to rescue the policeman, were greatly outnumbered by the mob, which overpowered and chased them away. State Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

NDLEA Arrests Career Counsellor for Drug Trafficking

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a 30-year-old man, John Arinze, for being in possession of 2.1 kilogrames of methamphetamine. The NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the arrest was made during the outward screening of passengers on a Virgin Atlantic flight to London at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, who confirmed the arrest, said that Arinze, who is a career counsellor, also claimed to be an ambassador of Bolton University in the United Kingdom where he had lived for three years. Arinze claimed that he was given the bag by a friend, who bought his return ticket to London. Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, described Arinze’s excuse as disappointing.

2 Killed as Cult Group Strikes Invade Bariga in Reprisal Attack

Two people were killed, on Monday, and three others severely injured as suspected cult members invaded a street in Sungas area of Bariga in Lagos State. The attack was said to be a reprisal attack from suspected members of Eiye confraternity from Somolu, who lost one of their members, Isiaka Oyefeso, during a recent attack by Aiye members. Investigations revealed that the invaders were on the trail of leaders of the Aiye group, simply identified as Tijani and Oshodi, who were alleged to have masterminded the killing of Oyefeso. A gang of about 30 heavily armed suspected cultists had reportedly invaded 16 Onile Iyan Street in the wee hours of the day to avenge the death of one of them. It was gathered that Tijani and Oshodi, who were suspected members of a rival group, live in the building where the attack took place but in a different room. The deceased persons and three others were until the incident, residing in the first room on the left side of the building , while the target stay on the last room on the same left side.

Policeman Goes on Rampage, Kills One, Injures Pregnant Woman, 3 Others

The Police in Festac town, Lagos, have arrested a mobile policeman for indiscriminate shooting and killing of a barber, while inflicting injuries on four others, including a pregnant woman at Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos. An eye witness, who spoke on terms of anonymity, said he was lucky to have escaped being killed by the policeman after he went out to ascertain what was happening when he heard sounds of gunshots. According to him, he saw one of the mobile policemen attached to a house in Chief Sunny Ebere Close shooting all over the place and staggering in the process. The killer cop allegedly went to a barber’s shop and the barber to come out. Not suspecting anything, he obeyed after which the policeman shot him at close range. It was gathered that when the policeman discovered the gravity of his action, he escaped through the Golden Tulip Hotel but was later arrested by the Festac Police.

Students on Rampage over Attack, Rape of 3 Undergraduates

Human and vehicular movements were disrupted in parts of Ondo State, on Tuesday, as students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, took to the street to protest the alleged rape of three female students of the school. The students prevented vehicles going towards Ado-Ekiti and Owo from moving, causing gridlock on the road. They alleged that some hoodlums had, on Monday night, invaded the campus and raped the students who were preparing for their examination. The students expressed their anger about the security situation on the campus and the manner with which the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the institution handled the situation. Efforts by men of the state police command, who were on ground to curtail the situation, were rebuffed by the students, who called for the removal of the CSO. It was learnt that five people, including a part-time student of the college, invaded the college on Monday evening with dangerous weapons and headed to the female hostel. President of the Students’ Union of the college, Oladapo Akindaminu, said the hoodlums attacked two of the ladies before they were raped. He said the third was a bit lucky, as she escaped being raped, but was seriously wounded.

Police Nab Armourer, Stolen Goods Receiver

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) are said to have arrested the mother of a gang member, who also served as the armourer to the group led by the notorious one-eyed robbery kingpin, Abiodun Ogunjobi, aka Godogodo, arrested in Lagos, recently. She was said to be the keeper of the rifles they used in raiding banks in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. Also nabbed, was the key receiver of goods stolen by the gang. The arrest resulted from the deployment of operatives to some South-Western states to track down members of the gang. Some of the victims, who survived Godogodo’s gruesome robbery attacks in Lagos State, were at the police headquarters in Ikeja to state their cases. Also, the Ogun State Police command has refuted claims by the notorious South-West robbery czar, that he was arrested and incarcerated for a minor crime of fighting in 1999 which made him to spend seven years in prison.

Maid Set Ablaze Dies

A maid, Ita Bassey-Eno, set ablaze by her mistress, Nkese Iroakasi in Surulere area of Lagos, has died. Efforts by physicians to save Bassey-Eno, proved abortive as she died at the Burns and Trauma Unit of the Gbagada General Hospital five days after she was rushed to the hospital. Iroakasi allegedly set her housemaid ablaze in for stealing a piece of meat from the pot of soup pot.  Meanwhile, homicide investigators at the State’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba have swung into action and arrested the said mistress. The incident took place at Iroakasi’s home after Eno rushed out of the apartment with fire on her body, apparently with an attempt to plunge into a gutter in order to quench the raging fire on her body.   Unfortunately, her strength failed her as she was said to have collapsed before she could get to the gutter. Although her mistress, a nurse at an undisclosed hospital in Surulere has denied the allegation at the Bode Thomas Police Station, she admitted that she reprimanded the girl for stealing a piece of meat from her pot of soup. The Lagos State Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said the suspect has been taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti Yaba for further investigation.

NIMR Tackles Cholera Outbreak in South West

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba-Lagos, said it has repositioned the Emergency Preparedness and Response Research Group (ERG-RG) to receive all samples sent to the Institute’s laboratories so as to support any affected states to carry out the analyses on samples following the red alert on cholera and gastroenteritis issued in four South West states. NIMR in a statement by the Head ERG-RG, Dr. Stella Smith, said the analysis on the samples would be carried purposely to confirm suspected cases of cholera in all reported cases of gastroenteritis; and to do sensitivity tests on all confirmed cases of cholera for effective treatment and also for rationale use of antibiotics. According to the statement, “as part of the Institute’s contribution to the reduction of mortality and morbidity -the less privileged, women and children -the Director General directed that all tests be free of charge”.

GENERAL

ICC Cites Boko Haram for Crimes against Humanity

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, Fatou Bensouda has said viewed acts attributed to terrorist Boko Haram sect as likely crimes against humanity. But she will only move to a full-fledged investigation after further studies and depending on whether Nigerian authorities prosecute “those who appear to bear the greatest responsibility.” Also, a former Foreign Affairs Minister and member of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation in the North, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has said in carrying out its incessant attacks on innocent people, the game plan of the Islamist group is to ignite ethnic clashes and cause pandemonium that may eventually lead to the country’s disintegration.

Over 900 Troops Return from Mali, Arrive Borno

The Defence Headquarters has formally received in Borno State about 900 troops that just returned from the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), and the newly-formed United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali, (MINUSMA), and deployed them to enforce emergency rule in the North-east. The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, received troops for onward deployment in various parts of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States to flush out Boko Haram terrorists. Olukolade said the troops, which began to arrive from Mali since last week were battle-tested, physically and psychologically fit to complete the mission to bring peace and stability in the country. He said the recent troop surge in the Operation BOYONA (state of emergency) would be enough to actualise the aim of the federal government to rid the country of terrorists.

Court Concludes Trial of Lebanese

A Federal High Court in Abuja Monday, refused to hear an application seeking the reopening of two companies allegedly used to commit terrorism-related offences. The companies: Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park Resort were sealed up by the federal government after the discovery of large cache of arms in a Kano house, which allegedly belonged to a co-owner of the companies. The companies were charged with their Lebanese owners, who are standing trial for terrorism-related charges and in connection with the discovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition in a house in Kano. They were also charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation, Hezbollah. Trial ended in the case Monday, with the defence closing its case, after calling four witnesses, including a Lebanon-based lawyer, Youssef Finianos, who was invited to explain the status of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The suspects denied involvement in any terrorism activities.

FG Accepts US Request for Extradition of Suspected Terrorist

The federal government has asked a court to extradite a citizen wanted in the United States for terrorism. The US Embassy is requesting the extradition of Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, alleging that he provided support to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The document said Babafemi, 33, admitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents that he travelled to Yemen with AQAP members and was given $8,600 to return to Nigeria and recruit English speakers to radicalise others. In another development, the Defence Headquarters has said the arrest of a Nigerian terrorist leader in neighbouring Niger Republic has foiled a plot by the terrorist group to regroup and launch more attacks. The military said intelligence agents from both countries had been on the trail of the leader, who was arrested last Saturday in a border area.

Five Persons Feared Dead as Civilian JTF Groups Fight for Territory

About five persons were feared dead in a confrontation between two sets of youth vigilante groups in Borno State at the weekend, residents said Sunday. It was gathered that trouble started in Borno's town of Biu when the two groups confronted themselves in a claim of who should hunt for Boko Haram, in the territory. Biu had witnessed series of killings and bombings carried out by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in recent times. According to Abdullahi Mohammed, an injured youth, trouble started when a group of Civilian JTF from Maiduguri, the state capital, accompanied by soldiers, invaded Biu town in search of Boko Haram terrorists.

14 Teenagers Crushed to Death in Jos

About 14 youths were crushed to death and nine others seriously injured, last weekend, when a vehicle rammed into them while they were jogging along Tundun Maza Road in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State. They were said to be members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades on a regular keep fit exercise. They also served as security in some Churches in the area. The teenagers, numbering about 40, were out around 6am for the routine exercise. At Tundun Maza, the truck skidded off the road and rammed into them, killing 14 of them on the spot. The vehicle was said to be conveying maize from Bokkos to Bukuru Market in Jos-South LGA. It was gathered that immediately the incident happened, both the driver and the owner of the maize fled to avoid being lynched. Those injured were taken to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital for treatments.

Insecurity: Ihejirika Advocates Increase in Security Allocation

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, on Sunday advocated the need for an increase in budgetary allocation to security in view of the prevailing security challenges in the country. Ihejirika stated this at the graduation ceremony of the Basic Counter Terrorism Courses 12 of 2013 Nigerian Army Training Centre in Kontagora, Niger State. He said more officers needed to be trained in counter-terrorism in order to meet with the level of personnel required to meet with the current security challenges in Nigeria. The Army boss acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Government in funding security, but expressed the need for the National Assembly to increase budgetary allocation to the sector.

EFCC Declares Accused Oil Marketers Wanted

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared two oil marketers, who are standing trial before a Lagos High Court for alleged oil subsidy fraud, Messrs Seun Ogunbambo and Habila Theck, wanted. The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, declared them wanted on Tuesday after they were said to have evaded trial. Ogunbambo and Theck are the Managing Director and the General Manager of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, respectively. The duo, along with the company, is facing charges of N976.6m fuel subsidy fraud. Apart from that, Ogunbambo is facing separate charges of about N4.46bn fuel subsidy fraud along with Mamman, son of former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Ahmadu Ali, and Christian Taylor. He and his firm, Adeline Investment, are also facing separate N430m bank fraud charges before another High Court in Ikeja.

35 Killed as Boko Haram Attacks Police Base in Borno

Fresh attacks by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram Islamist sect has left at least 35 persons dead, including two soldiers and a policeman, with several others injured in Borno State, military officials said. The spokesman of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Lt Col Sagir Musa said Boko Haram members, who had threatened to launch massive attacks as Ramadan ends, lived out their threat by launching coordinated attacks on a Mobile Police Base and Bama town, but were repelled by the military. The sect members, using sophisticated weapons and Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, launched attacks at about 6:45am on Sunday, the spokesman said. “The encounter led to the death of one policeman and 17 Boko Haram members, two soldiers were also wounded.” Musa also said two soldiers were killed when Boko Haram staged another attack on the operatives of the JTF. The soldiers were able to kill 15 Boko Haram members during the attack.” The military said normalcy had, however, returned to the two towns.

INTERNATIONAL

Honduras Troops Take-over Prison after Riots

Security forces were guarding injured inmates taken to a hospital in Tegucigalpa, to prevent any attempt by gangs to free the prisoners. Honduras has sent troops to take control of the country's main prison near the capital Tegucigalpa after three inmates were killed in a riot. The move was aimed at ending "the reign of criminals in our prison system", President Porfirio Lobo said. A police spokesman said a riot broke out at the National Penitentiary after fighting erupted between gang members and other prisoners. The prison, located north of Tegucigalpa, reportedly houses some 3,300 inmates. Authorities were carrying out a "cell-by-cell review to find out what happened", prison director Simeon Flores was quoted as saying.  After the clash, the authorities found hand grenades and firearms in the prison. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said the country's prisons were impoverished, overcrowded and corrupt. Government figures show more than 12,000 people in Honduras are currently incarcerated in prisons that were built for just 8,000.

Iranian President wants Sanctions Lifted

Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, has urged the West to drop sanctions and treat Tehran with respect. He made the call during his inauguration speech to parliament. Rouhani, 64, nominated a cabinet that included as foreign minister, ex-UN envoy Mohammad Javad Zarif, a moderate. The US said it would be a "willing partner" if Iran "engages seriously". The White House said Iran should meet its international obligations and deal with international concern over its nuclear programme. Rouhani, a former nuclear negotiator, who has worked as a diplomat for three decades, won a surprise victory in June's election. He gained support from reformists by hinting at a more moderate stance than his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Turkish General Jailed for Life over 'Plot'

Turkey's former armed forces chief has been jailed for life for plotting to overthrow the government. His sentence comes after five years of trials involving officers, lawyers, writers and journalists. General Ilker Basbug was among dozens of people convicted of involvement in the “Ergenekon plot”. Critics of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have accused him of staging show trials to eliminate his enemies. His supporters say the trials have pushed the military out of politics. Gen Basbug, who led the military between 2008 and 2010, was among at least five generals to be jailed for life on Monday at a specially constructed courtroom. The heavy sentences given to retired military officers are another sign that the Erdogan administration has changed the nature of the relationship between civilian governments and the military. For decades the military was the final arbiter in Turkish politics. Between 1960 and 1997, the armed forces removed four civilian governments. But Erdogan has asserted civilian supremacy over the military.

US, Britain, France Close Missions over Al-Qaeda’s Threat

The United States (U.S.) State Department has announced the closure of American missions across the Middle East and Africa after intelligence reports found what lawmakers fear is the most serious threat of an Al-Qaeda attack in years. The U.S. State Department said 19 diplomatic outposts would be shuttered through Saturday. Similarly, Britain said its embassy in Yemen would remain closed until the end of the Muslim festival of Eid “due to continuing security concerns.” France also said its mission there would remain shut until Thursday. Norway has closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia and Jordan to the public due to threats of attacks by Al-Qaeda, the foreign ministry said yesterday. The global police agency Interpol added to fears by issuing a security alert over hundreds of militants freed in jailbreaks. The office of EU foreign affairs chief, Catherine Ashton, said European missions were liaising closely with their U.S. allies and that “all necessary precautions are being taken.”

Over 70 Hospitalised after Norway Tunnel Fire

At least 73 people were hospitalised with symptoms of smoke poisoning on Monday after their vehicles were trapped by a truck fire inside Norway’s second-longest tunnel. Authorities said victims were evacuated from western Norway’s 11.4-kilometre Gudvangen Tunnel, which links Oslo and Bergen. Joern Lasse Refnes, a local police official, said that 75 were evacuated from the tunnel, and all but two had to be taken to hospital. The situation was under control by mid-afternoon, after firefighters entered the tunnel to search for trapped motorists.

Mugabe Re-Elected for 7th Term

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has won a seventh term in office, amid claims of electoral fraud. Mugabe, 89, won 61% of the vote, which he contested against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai earlier said the elections for parliament and president were fraudulent and promised to take legal action. He said his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would no longer work with Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. Tsvangirai has also claimed victory for his MDC party in a parliamentary election, despite results showing a huge defeat. Tsvangirai said the election had been stolen by President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. Electoral officials confirmed that Zanu-PF had won 158 seats in the 210-member chamber. The MDC has urged Zimbabweans to refuse to co-operate with the government. Tsvangirai, who is current prime minister but is also running for president against Mugabe, said Zimbabwe was "in mourning" and had been plunged into constitutional crisis.

Over 160 Killed in in Afghan, Pakistani Flash Floods

Officials, on Monday, disclosed that flash floods caused by unusually heavy rain across Afghanistan and Pakistan have killed more than 160 people and stranded many villagers in remote areas without shelter, food or power. The mountainous area of Afghanistan was the worst hit, with 61 people killed and about 500 traditional mud-brick homes washed away in more than a dozen villages in less than an hour from the national capital, Kabul. The report also claimed that in the remote eastern Afghan province of Nuristan, about 60 homes were destroyed across three districts, quoting provincial spokesman, Mohammad Yusufi. No one was killed. Yusufi added that authorities were unable to get aid to some badly affected villages by land as roads in the area are controlled by the Taliban. In Pakistan monsoon rains claimed more than 80 lives, local media reported. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon disclosed that incidents of house collapse, drowning and electrocution all pushed up the death toll.

Gambia Fires Nigeria-born Chief Justice over Bribery Allegation

The Republic of Gambia has fired its Nigeria-born acting Chief Justice, Justice Joseph Wowo, over alleged bribery scandal, and appointed Ghana-born Justice Mabel Agyemang as his replacement. Nigerian government said it was probing the allegations that led to Wowo’s sack. Wowo, who spent a historic one month in office as Gambia’s top-jurist, has protested his indictment, dubbing the video-footage that caught him allegedly negotiating justice, a set-up. Agyemang, who was reportedly confirmed last Tuesday as CJ following her brief spell as acting CJ, took oaths of office, administered by the deputy secretary to Cabinet, Mariama Njie. Agyemang is the second Ghanaian Chief Justice of The Gambia.

Rebels Capture Syrian Army Air Base in Aleppo

Rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, have captured a key air base in Aleppo province, near the Turkish border, activists say. The pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said rebels took Minnig airport early on Tuesday. The opposition has been trying to capture the base since last year. Rebels have also recently taken several villages in Latakia province, the heartland of President Assad's minority Alawite sect. But loyalist forces have made recent gains too -in the cities of Damascus and Homs, and other areas of Aleppo, reports indicate. As the battle at Minnig was raging, the government celebrated its own victory in the central city of Homs, as the defence minister toured the Khalidiyeh neighbourhood, which was recently retaken from rebel control. Analysts say the capture of the Minnig base is a blow to President Assad because it deprives his forces of what was one of their main supply routes in Aleppo province.

US Warns Citizens to Leave Yemen Citing Threats

Yemeni soldiers have tightened security around the US embassy in Sanaa. The US State Department has told citizens and non-emergency government staff to leave Yemen "immediately" due to security threats. It comes after the sudden closure of 20 US embassies and consulates penultimate Sunday. This was prompted by intercepted conversations between two senior al-Qaeda figures, including top leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, US media said. Meanwhile the UK Foreign office says it has withdrawn embassy staff from Yemen and advises against all travel there. The US earlier said the closure in North Africa and the Middle East was out of an abundance of caution. Both the White House and the US state department have said the current threat comes from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), but have refused to divulge further details.

Fort Hood Killings: Military Suspect Admits Shooting

A former US Army psychiatrist who killed 13 soldiers at an Army base in Texas in 2009 has admitted in court he was the gunman and apologised for "any mistakes", as his court martial opened. But Major Nidal Hasan, 42, told the jury at Fort Hood, Texas, that the evidence told only one side of the story. Major Hasan has said he was protecting Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan. If convicted on 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder, the US-born Muslim could face execution. The killings are the deadliest ever non-combat attack on an American military base. Judge Col Tara Osborn has already barred Maj Hasan from arguing the attack was undertaken in "defence of others", ruling there was no evidence the soldiers at the base posed any threat to the Taliban leadership - and declaring the justice of the US-led war in Afghanistan would not be up for debate in the court.

Canada Police Probe 'Snake Deaths'

Police in the Canadian province of New Brunswick have launched a criminal probe into the killing of two young boys by an escaped snake. Investigators hope to learn whether the owner of the pet shop from which the snake escaped followed all the rules. Connor and Noah Barthe, ages seven and five, were sleeping over with the son of the shop's owner in a flat above the Campbellton shop on Monday when  a python weighing 100lb strangled them. Police said they believed the snake slipped out of its cage overnight and slithered up through a ventilation duct into the room where the boys slept. The snake has been captured by police. The town's deputy mayor Ian Comeau said the shop, Reptile Ocean, had a licence and kept alligators, crocodiles and snakes. Jean-Claude Savoie, the pet shop owner, said he thought the boys were sleeping until he saw that debris had fallen from a hole in the ceiling.