Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 35

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Police Arrest Tanker Driver for Defiling 2-Year-Old

A 41-year-old tanker driver identified as Bashiru has been arrested in Calabar, Cross River state, for allegedly defiling a two-year-old daughter of his neighbour and infecting her with a sexually transmitted disease. The incident happened when the two-year-old girl, went from her mother’s room into Bashiru’s apartment to play. Margaret, the girl’s mother, said she did not stop her daughter from going into Bashiru’s room because she considered him a neighbour, who could not harm her. But she was surprised when she later came out and complained that she was having pains in her genitals. The mother said she got into a shock when in the evening when the girl cried of pain as she was having her evening bath. The State’s Police spokesman, Mr Hogan Bassey, confirmed the arrest of the man and said the matter was under investigation.

Man Torches Bayelsa Fuel Station

A 45-year-old vagrant, Thursday, torched the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mega Filling Station in Yenagoa. However, the timely response of the station staff stopped the fire from spreading. On his arrest, the police found on him pictures of prominent indigenes of the state, a portion of cocaine and cannabis. He was said to have entered the station at about 11am, moved to the kerosene selling point where he set ablaze one of the jerry cans brought by a woman to buy the product. It was gathered that after starting the fire, the man took to his heels and boarded a tricycle, but he was chased and arrested by passers-by. Attempts by a mob to set him ablaze were foiled by the arrival of a detachment of the state’s special police patrol team.

Robbers Kill Eight in Attack on Enugu Market

At least eight persons were, Thursday, killed at Abakpa Nike, a suburb of the Enugu metropolis as gunmen stormed a local market in the area shooting sporadically and killing people in the process. The incident, which happened around 5pm, sent jitters down the spines of residents of the area as most of them were said to have deserted the place for fear of another robbery attack. According to eyewitnesses, the robbers stormed the market in a commando-like style and shot at the traders. The police however put the number of the dead at two and the injured at five. Police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, said four suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident, while investigations have commenced in full scale to ascertain the root cause and those arrested are now helping the police in their investigation.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

12 Pirates Killed in Delta State

In a direct confrontation between the men of the Nigerian Navy and sea pirates, 12 pirates were killed by a naval team, during a rescue operation on a hijacked oil vessel in Forcados in Delta State. It was gathered that pirates had hijacked the vessel, which was carrying 17,000 metric tonnes of Kerosene. A distress call to the naval authorities forced the deployment of a naval contingent in gunboats, to storm the ship, where the 12 pirates were arrested, after a gun battle. Following the distress call, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral IE Ibas, was said to have dispatched the Nigerian Navy Ships to pursue the bandits, who had diverted the ship. The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan, disclosed that eight naval war vessels were deployed to carry out the operation. Usman said the survivors, who were currently detained at the NNS Delta had made useful confessions, which were helping the navy in its investigation.

Officer Killed as Police Rescue 6 Kidnap Victims

A Police Sergeant, attached to the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Delta State Police Command, has been shot dead by a gang of kidnappers. Another Police officer sustained serious bullet wound on his leg at Obinoba town in Ukwani LGA of the state. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Lucky Uyabeme, who confirmed the death of the Policeman,  Emeke Azolobi, said that the officer was felled when policemen clashed with the hoodlums in an attempt to rescue six persons abducted at Ugha Village in Uhunmwode council and Ekpoma in Ishan West council both in Edo State, and fled to Delta state. The six kidnapped persons, including a mother and her two kids, were eventually rescued. Uyabeme said that items recovered from the hoodlums included the two vehicles and two handsets. The PPRO said that police was on their trail and would intensify effort to arrest the fleeing suspects, adding that the case would soon be transferred to the Edo Police Command for further investigations.

Navy Arrests Pirates, Recovers Hijacked Oil Barge

Officials of the Nigerian Navy (NN) attached to the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Tuesday paraded four pirates who had on August 14 hijacked an oil barge, MT Crow, at the Escravos area that was laden with over 200 metric tonnes of diesel.  The suspects were said to have hijacked the oil barge at gunpoint and held the nine-man crew hostage. This is just as the navy in a separate operation engaged a 20-man gang of suspected Niger Delta militants in a gun duel. At the end of the operation, about 17 of the suspects were feared killed while three were arrested. Also in another operation, NNS Beecroft officials at the weekend arrested five pipeline vandals, including a nursing mother and recovered three boats laden with 126 kegs of petrol. Naval spokesman, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, said the arrests were in line with the Strategic Guidance 01 of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba.

Children Plan Kidnappings to Defraud Parents

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba, has said there was a new trend in kidnapping in the state, in which children conspire with kidnap syndicates to demand and collect ransom from their parents. He said from the series of kidnap cases investigated by the police, the emerging pattern showed involvement of insiders. Aduba, who described the development as shocking, said that children now plot and kidnap siblings to extort money from their parents, while children set up their parents for kidnappers. He cited a recent incident in Warri, where a kidnapped victim and the kidnappers were found to be children of the same parents, who stage-managed the kidnap to defraud their father. The father broke down when the facts unfolded before him.

Soldiers Raid Delta Community in Search of Female Oil Thieves

was confusion in Egbemene community, opposite Macver Market, Warri South-West LGA of Delta State, as soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) raided the neighbourhood in alleged pursuit of suspected female crude oil bunkerers. It was gathered that the suspects, who were conveying diesel in a boat to Warri, ran into the community and fled in a desperate attempt to escape from the soldiers, who were chasing them. They abandoned the boat on the riverbank, while the soldiers ransacked homes in search of them. A community source said that the military men harassed villagers, including Chief Perebina-bin Ebiton and a woman, Akren Yodiowei, who was said to be innocent.

Doctor Kidnapped in Edo State

Suspected kidnapper in Edo state, last weekend, abducted a doctor at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Dr. Edward Osahogie, who was on his way home from work. The development has led to a call by the Chairman of the Board of the Hospital, Boyelayefa Debekeme, to security agents in the state to assist in fishing out those responsible for the doctor’s abduction. The Ekpoma Divisional Police Officer, Okpako Omuohowo, assured that his men were on top of the situation, as they were making frantic efforts to ensure the doctor’s release and also bring the perpetrators to book.

Police Parade 44 Kidnapping, Robbery Suspects in Edo

Kidnappers of three female teachers and a female informant were among the 44 suspected criminals paraded on Wednesday by the Edo State Police Command. The state Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, said that the suspects were apprehended through its covert operations. Adebanjo, who promised that soon the state police command would be stepping up implementation of its crime prevention strategies to further reduce the rate of crime in the state, disclosed that 18 suspect were arrested for armed robbery, 10 apprehended for kidnapping, while the rest were arrested for sundry crimes such as defilement, murder, pipeline vandalism, unlawful possession of firearms and cultism.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Task Force Arrests 10 Pipeline Vandals in Ogun

The Inspector General of Police Special Taskforce on Pipeline Vandalism, on Monday, paraded 10 suspected pipeline vandals arrested at Elepete, Arepo area of Ogun State with about 800 gallons of 50 litres of kerosene. The Officer-in-Charge of the Taskforce, Friday Ibadin, said the suspects were arrested in batches on Sunday night. It was gathered that the taskforce had over time, monitored the suspects, before swooping-in on them. This comes as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command said it had sealed up two compounds at Ishawo in Ikorodu area of the state, where stolen pipeline products were grand-loaded. The Lagos State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Adesuyi Dayo, that the NSCDC also recovered 121 jerry cans of 50 litres of the stolen products in the compounds. He called on community leaders and well-meaning Nigerians to help the NSCDC in the fight against pipeline vandalism and oil theft.

Court Remands Drummer over Abduction 3 Children

An Ilorin Magistrates’ court, Monday, remanded a drummer, Bashiru Ishola, for allegedly kidnapping three female children. The victims, aged between six and 10 years, were allegedly lured by the accused on July 26 at Popo-Giwa area of Ilorin. The prosecutor, Sgt. Al-hassan Jubril, disclosed that the accused was arrested at Okekere area of Ilorin while boarding a cab with the children. Jubril said the accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of kidnapping and abduction, and objected to the bail of the accused on the ground that the alleged offences were not bailable. Magistrate Ibijoke Olawoyin ordered the remand of the accused in Mondala Prison, Ilorin, and adjourned the case.

Protests as Policeman Kills Bike Rider

There was pandemonium in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, on Tuesday after a policeman allegedly killed a commercial motorcycle rider. The policeman, identified simply as Haruna, in company with three of his colleagues, had arrested the bike riders for allegedly breaking the state traffic law. He opened fire on the rider, identified only as Lekan, when he resisted the arrest. It was learnt that a passer-by, Modikat Babatunde, was also hit by the bullet. Chairman, Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State, Ikorodu Branch, Kayode Jimoh, said that the killer policeman and his team were said to have fled after the incident as protests broke out after the shooting. Soldiers were also said to have arrived the area to assist the police. In a related development, a policeman allegedly shot and killed a youth in Ajah area of the state. The youth was said to have been killed by the police because he stabbed another man in Ilaje area during a clash.

Policewoman Arrested in Bribery Scandal

The Lagos State Police Command said it had arrested a policewoman caught in a video footage demanding a bribe of N100 from a commercial bus driver. Police Spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said that the arrest followed a probe of the video which has been circulating on the social media.  Braide said that the woman will be made to undergo an orderly room trial and the outcome will be made public. The one-minute 25 seconds video, which first appeared on YouTube, has attracted double the amount of views. In the footage, the policewoman was heard insisting on collecting the N100 bribe from a driver who she apprehended for violating a traffic rule at a yet-to-be identified location in Lagos.

3 Arrested over Attempt to Abduct ex-Beauty Queen

Three fake security operatives have been arrested in Abeokuta after attempting to kidnap a former Miss Nigeria, Feyi Sodipo. The suspects were said to have claimed to be security operatives working for the organisers of Miss Nigeria beauty pageant. It was gathered that the suspects reportedly took ex-Miss Nigeria in their car from Lagos to Abeokuta. It was further gathered that the suspects were said to have ordered her to enter their car from Lagos to Abeokuta to retrieve her car gift from where she parked it. Attempt by the suspects to take the car away from the Arcade ground of the Ogun State secretariat complex in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, however, met stiff resistance as the mother of the ex-beauty queen raised the alarm. The suspects who reportedly claimed to be police officers, however, failed to identify themselves when security operatives attached to the office of the state governor intervened.

NAFDAC Seizes N200m Fake Drugs, Others

In a major crackdown, the   National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized fake drugs, food and cosmetic products from China worth over N200 million. The fake drugs are mostly antibiotics and oral contraceptives, while the food products include wines; and the cosmetics, skin lightening creams. Parading the suspects in Lagos on Wednesday, the NAFDAC’s Director General, Dr. Paul Orhii, said most of the products which were imported from China include sand-like substance in place of 99 per cent Caustic Soda also called sodium hydroxide (NaOH) by a Chinese company.

Lagos Seals 1,800 Distressed Buildings

The Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, sealed about 1,800 buildings across the state, stating that the buildings under seal risked being demolished due to their poor state of structural integrity. Also, the state government said it had commenced the state-wide demolition of distressed buildings, which it said, largely violated the physical planning and urban development law of the state. General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun, who disclosed this, explained that the 1,800 buildings were sealed for being distressed, contrary to the rumours that they were not having building approval or Certificates of Occupancy (CofO). She general manager explained that many of the affected property owners had refused, “to come forward to do the necessary for the re-opening of their properties.

IGP Orders Probe into Police Killing of Bike Rider

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting of a commercial motorcyclist, Olalekan Ajayi, by a policeman at the Ikorodu area of the state. The IGP, who appealed for calm to enable the police authorities to probe the matter, pledged that justice would be done. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the policeman linked with the killing of Ajayi had been arrested, detained and was presently undergoing investigation. While promising that the Force will do its utmost best to ensure that the investigation into the death is properly done and concluded in record time, the IGP  calls on all aggrieved persons to remain calm and patient.”

25 Children Rescued from Alleged Trafficker

The Lagos State Government has rescued 25 children from an alleged child trafficker in the Egbeda area of the state. It was learnt that the suspected trafficker, Mrs. Rosemary Nwachukwu, was also arrested and had been handed over to the Police, while the children remained in government’s custody. Nwachukwu is accused of operating an illegal orphanage named, Saint Stephen Charity Foundation. It was gathered that officials from the Office of Youth and Social Department, led by the Director, Child Development, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo, in conjunction with personnel from the Office of Public Defender and policemen, stormed the orphanage on Saturday. The government said findings showed that the suspect was using the orphanage as a front for another illegal business. But Nwachukwu said she had been running the orphanage for 18 years, adding that it was purely on charity basis, and without financial gain.

Five Students Arraigned for Cultism

Five university students were, Thursday, docked at an Abeokuta magistrate’s court for allegedly belonging to a secret cult. The accused are from various institutions. The accused persons, who were not represented by counsel, are facing a four-count charge bordering on membership of an unlawful secret society and breach of peace. Men of the state police command arrested the five accused persons while 15 others reportedly escaped after gathering in a bush for a meeting. The prosecutor, Inspector Augustine Ozimini, alleged that the students with others still at large caused a breach of peace as members of a secret society. The magistrate, Emmanuel Adekunte, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum. Further hearing in the case was adjourned to October 4.

GENERAL

JTF Hands over to New Army Division in North

Emergency rule in the three north-eastern states is set to enter a new phase as the command and control of the on-going internal security operations in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States has reverted to the army headquarters for the last three months of emergency rule. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who said the Joint Task Force (JTF), would hand over operational authorities to the Nigerian Army. According to him, a new army division had been created and would take off to continue counter-insurgency operations with immediate effect. In line with the directive, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim, directed massive deployment of troops to boost and expand the existing JTF operation into a new structure.

Ihejirika Decries Mode of Operation against Terrorism

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Monday faulted the mode of operations of the Army in the war against terrorism in the country, especially in curbing the activities of the Boko Haram sect in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States. Ihejirika flayed senior military officers for relaxing too much in their “air conditioned offices”, while their formations were being taken over by the sect members. The army chief, who noted that the nation was passing through serious security challenges, charged army commanders to take full charge of their formations, stressing that the traditional method of fighting should be deployed to crush the Islamic sect in some parts of the North. He stressed that as unit commanders, commanding officers should be alive to their responsibilities in order to fight terrorism and other societal ills.

Four Suspected Terrorist Killed in Borno

The on-going efforts at ending the Boko Haram terrorism in Borno State saw the Joint Task Force (JTF) and members of the Borno Vigilance Youth Group (BVYG) kill four terror suspects in Zajeri and Bolori wards of Maiduguri metropolis on Tuesday, while two rifles and ammunition were recovered from their houses. This comes after about 25 gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members early Wednesday attacked the Gwoza Divisional Police Station in the state with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petro-bombs, killing two policemen and injuring three others, who were protecting the station from being torched. In the ensuing face-off with the JTF and policemen, however, seven of the attackers were killed. Chairman of Gwoza council, Dr. Ibrahim Bulama, confirmed the attack and killings at the police station. In another development, suspected Islamists attacked the residents of Flatori ward of Gambouru/Ngala, killing four and injuring eight others.

US Urges More Training for Nigerian Military

The ninth United States-Nigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC) concluded with a resolve that Nigeria should provide more security training to the military and other government services. In a United States (U.S.) Embassy statement in Abuja yesterday, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, said that extra education and awareness would address the challenges the government faces, particularly with the insurgency in the North. Sherman stressed that countering extremists within Nigeria requires using all of the strengths the country has, its talent and federal character, which draws on the abilities of citizens from all regions, sectors and parts of the country, and its diversity that allows for approaching problems from multiple angles at the same time.

IGP Redeploys 14 Police Commissioners

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered the redeployment of 14 Commissioners of Police (CP) to commands and formations across the country. All postings are with immediate effect. In a statement signed by the Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, the affected CPs were urged to step up the fight against all forms of criminality in their new commands and formations, and  to leverage on the cordial relationship among sister security agencies in their respective beats to ensure that criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum. The IGP also sent the Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and CPs, who were currently serving in police commands and formations, including zonal commands and Force Headquarters, to proceed on a Leadership and Strategic Management Course for senior officers.

Gunmen Attack Police Station, Kill Three

Unidentified gunmen have killed three police officers in an attack on a Divisional Police Station in Kajuru, the headquarters of Kajuru LGA, Kaduna State. The hoodlums, armed with sophisticated weapons, were said to have launched the attack at the police station on Monday night. They were said to have broken the cell opened and freed all the detained suspected criminals. Two of the policemen were said to have died on the spot while the third person, who was among two others who sustained injuries, died on the way to the Hospital. It was learnt that the policemen on duty at the time of the attack were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the attackers and had to run away for their lives. However, three of their colleagues fell to the bullets of the hoodlums. The state Governor, Alhaji Muktar Yero, has condemned the attack, calling on security operatives to intensify investigation to fish out the perpetrators.

FG Demands Better Performance from Police

The Federal Government has demanded a better performance from the police in the area of crime investigation. President Goodluck Jonathan, who admonished the Force in Abuja on Tuesday during the inauguration of the renovated Force Criminal Investigation Department building complex, enjoined police investigators to join hands with the Inspector-General of Police to reduce crime to the minimum. Jonathan promised that his administration would provide the necessary incentive to the police and other security agencies to combat criminal activities in the country. The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said the police authorities were committed to providing conducive environment for personnel for effective policing. Abubakar commended the officers and men of the force for doing their best in the current fight against crime and insecurity in the country but urged them to do more.

Minister Tasks Oil Companies on Compliance with Nuclear Regulations

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has asked operators and service providers in the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to honestly comply with regulations on nuclear applications as regards their respective operations within the sector. Alison-Madueke noted that considering the increasing demand and importation of radio-active materials into the country by operators in the oil and gas sector, it thus behoves on industry operators to respect the mandate of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) to ensure effective monitoring of nuclear application in the industry by submitting to extant regulations. The minister said this at the technical meeting organised by the NNRA to brainstorm with stakeholders on the challenges and expectations in regulating nuclear application in the oil and gas sector.

Army Cautions Officers against Extremism

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, has cautioned officers of the Nigerian Army not to engage in acts of religious extremism, adding that the army will not hesitate to flush out soldiers involved in such acts. Ihejirika, who stated this at the graduation ceremony of the Basic Counter-terrorism Course 13/13 at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) in Kontagora, Niger State, at the weekend, said the army had discovered that inciting statements and materials were being distributed within the military. Director of Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency (CTCOIN), Brigadier-General Tijani Golau, in his remark, disclosed that the main objective of the course was to avail the soldiers the requisite skill and knowledge to combat the current wave of contemporary security challenges in the country.

Hunter Kills Colleague Mistaken for Antelope

The Police have arrested a middle aged man, Musibau Mustapha, for killing his colleague during a hunting expedition. Mustapha, 30, was said to have mistaken his fellow hunter, Sunday Ijasa, for an antelope and released the bullet which instantly claimed his life at Igbara Odo Ekiti in Ekiti South-West LGA of the state. Police spokesman, Victor Babayemi, last weekend, said that there were inconsistencies in the statement made by the suspect after preliminary investigations conducted by the police. Babayemi further said autopsy had been conducted on the corpse, while investigation is still on-going, adding that the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

8 Killed in Niger Road Crash

At least eight persons including a woman, Pastor (Mrs) Hellen Samuel, and her three children, were reportedly killed in a motor accident in Niger State. The accident occurred when the bus owned by the Niger State Transport Authority they were travelling in ran into an articulated truck along Bida-Minna road. The bus, travelling from Lagos to Minna, was said to have caught fire shortly after the accident, making rescue efforts difficult. It was gathered that only one passenger was rescued alive with serious burns. Special Adviser to the Niger State Government on Emergency and Disaster Management, Mohammed Shaba, confirmed that the eight bodies had been recovered from the scene of the accident.

Kids Suffocate in Parked Car

Two kids belonging to the same parent suffocated to death last week in Lafia, Nasarawa state in their father's parked car. Five year old Hasiya, a girl and her four year old brother, Izzudeen were found dead in their father's Toyota car parked outside the family residence in Sabon Pegi area of Lafia metropolis, Lafia. Father of the deceased kids Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Sarki who is a Chief Imam of a Juma'at Mosque told Daily Trust they locked themselves in the car and couldn't get out. He said they were discovered only at about past 8pm last Wednesday, after the family and neighbours searched for them from 12pm of the same day without success. The two children were buried the following morning according to Islamic rites.

18 Killed in Borno as JTF, Boko Haram Clash

Clashes between soldiers and members of Boko Haram sect have claimed 18 lives, a military source said. Suspected members of Boko Haram killed 11 people in an attack on Damboa town in Borno state on Thursday, shooting at soldiers, burning shops and killing civilians. Around 50 gunmen in cars and motorbikes stormed the rural town, forcing hundreds of residents to flee to hide in nearby farms, locals said. In neighbouring Gombe state, police officers killed seven members of Boko Haram in a two-hour gun fight in the early hours of Friday, Gombe police spokesperson, Fwaje Atajiri, disclosed.

Woman Jailed over Assault on Boyfriend

A Karu Senior Magistrates’ court has sentenced a 25-year-old woman, Victoria Alonge, to one-year in jail for pouring hot oil on her boyfriend, Roland Nna, over his refusal to marry her. The Senior Magistrate, Omolola Akindele, sentenced Alonge without an option of fine after the convict admitted to committing the offence in court. The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Paschal Njoku, had told the court that Nna reported the incident at Kurudu Police Station on August 11. Njoku said Alonge went to Nna’s house at about 4:30am on the fateful day and poured hot oil on him while he was asleep, resulting in grievous hurt on his body. He said she was immediately arrested by the police, based on the report and confession to committing the crime before the police. Njoku said while in detention, Alonge threatened to inflict more harm on the victim.

Flood Destroys Houses in Zamfara

About 1000 houses collapsed on Sunday in three communities in Zamfara State following a ravaging flood caused by torrential rain. Talata Mafara community, the home of Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari recorded the highest causalities as over 500 houses collapsed, while over 400 others were destroyed in Birnin Yaro and Badarawa villages in Shinkafi council of the state. No life was lost and the State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA) has deployed its officials to the affected communities with a view to ascertaining the exact number of people and houses affected by the flood. The State Acting Governor and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Sanusi Garba Rikiji, expressed shock over the incident and urged the victims to take the disaster in good faith.

US Probes Report of Shekau’s Death

The United States Government has launched a probe into the report that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, is dead in a bid to authenticate the claim by the Joint Task Force (JTF), which had on Monday announced his possible death following gunshot injuries he sustained in a clash with Nigerian troops. The  announcement that "Shekau might have died between July 25 to 3 August" in Amitchide, Cameroun, after being "mortally wounded" in an encounter with JTF at the Sambisa Forest on June 30, has been greeted with disbelief as the task force did not produce any proof beyond relying on intelligence report to back up its claim.

13 Killed as Boko Haram Attacks Borno

Thirteen persons were feared killed, when suspected Boko Haram members stormed Gwoza and Gamboru/Ngala towns in Borno State. It was gathered that in the last one week, youth vigilante groups presently on the prowl in search of members of the outlawed sect, had recorded successes in both towns, as they were able to dislodge a large number of terrorists hitherto residents in the towns. A source disclosed that the Boko Haram sect, whose members were recently apprehended at Gamboru/Ngala by the youth volunteers, had stormed the town early Wednesday. A member of Gwoza Emirate Council disclosed that two policemen were killed in an attack on Gwoza Police Station. He, however, said seven of the insurgents also died in the clash with policemen assisted by men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), who repelled the attack.

INTERNATIONAL

South Korea, US Begin Military Drills

South Korea and the US have begun a new round of joint military exercises on Monday. Thousands of soldiers are taking part in computer-aided drills designed to test defence capabilities. South Korea says that North Korea, which was angered by the previous drill, was notified well in advance. The drills come as the North agreed to family reunions and reached a deal with the South on an industrial zone. The drills, known as Ulchi Freedom Guardian, are expected to last for 12 days and mobilises about 50,000 members of the South Korean military and 30,000 US servicemen. They are intended to help "ensure stability and security on the peninsula and reaffirm the US commitment to the north-east Asia region", says a statement from the United States Forces Korea. The drills come as tensions are starting to ease in the peninsula.

Iraqi Receives Refugees from Syria

Thousands of refugees from Syria are pouring over the border into Iraqi Kurdistan, the UN refugee agency says. Up to 10,000 crossed at Peshkhabour on Saturday, adding to an earlier influx of 7,000 on Thursday. The UN agencies, the Kurdish regional government and NGOs are struggling to cope, reports say. The UN says the reasons are not fully clear, but there has been a sharp rise in clashes between Syrian Kurds and anti-government Islamist militants. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says this is one of the biggest single waves of refugees it has had to deal with since the uprising against the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.

170 Missing as Ship Sinks in Philippine

Philippine rescuers struggled in rough seas Sunday as they resumed a bleak search for nearly 170 people missing in the country's latest ferry disaster, but insisted miracle survivor stories were possible. Thirty-four people have been confirmed dead after the ferry, carrying 830 passengers and crew, sank almost instantly on Friday night following a collision with a cargo vessel outside a major port in the central city of Cebu. Stormy weather forced an early suspension of search and rescue operations with a few hours of daylight remaining on Saturday, and similar conditions hampered the effort when rescuers returned to the waters at dawn on Sunday morning. Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic said the weather had prevented divers from reaching the interior of the sunken vessel, where many of those missing were believed trapped, but rescuers would make every effort to get there.

Mexico Arrests Drug Cartel Leader

Mexico said it had captured the leader of the country's Gulf drug cartel on Saturday. Drug cartels and criminal groups have terrorized the country for years. The interior ministry said that soldiers captured Mario Ramirez Trevino, described as "the head of a criminal organization that operated in the north of the country," in an operation on Saturday morning. This is the second major success against the drug cartels for President Enrique Pena Nieto after the arrest in July of Miguel Angel Trevino, the head of the paramilitary Zetas cartel. Pena Nieto, who took office in December 2012, has pledged to reduce drug-related violence that has resulted in more than 70,000 murders since 2006.

Israel Retaliates after Shells from Syria Hit Golan Heights

The Israeli army fired into Syria after shells from the neighbouring country hit the Israeli-occupied sector of the Golan Heights on Saturday, a military spokesman said.
"Today, several shells fired from Syria landed in the central Golan heights, adjacent to the Israel-Syria border," he said. According to him, Israeli forces carried out a pinpoint strike, targeting the source of the shooting. The spokesman said at least three shells were confirmed to have hit Israel. He could not say whether the army considered the incidents cases of stray fire spilling over from the conflict in Syria. The Golan has been tense since the beginning of the conflict in Syria more than two years ago, but so far there have only been minor flare-ups as Syrian small arms fire or mortar rounds hit the Israeli side, prompting an occasional Israeli response.

Brazil Jails Three over Rape of American Student

A court in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, penultimate Thursday, sentenced two men to almost 50 years imprisonment for brutally raping an American student and assaulting her French boyfriend. The third man received a 21-year jail term. The six-hour attack occurred in a minibus in March after the couple boarded the minibus at around midnight in Copacabana and were headed to Lapa. Two men, who boarded the bus at the same time, ordered the rest of the passengers to get off and they then assaulted the eventual victims, as they drove around the city, according to police. The driver of the vehicle, 20-year-old Jonathan de Souza, and Walace de Souza Silva, 21, each received a jail term of 49 years and three months for robbery, rape, extortion and corruption of minors. Under Brazilian law, they will serve a maximum of 30 years. Another defendant, 21-year-old Carlos Armando Costa dos Santos, who was not present at the start of the assault, was sentenced to 21 years for rape and extortion. A youth implicated in the incident is to be tried later by a court for minors.

Riots in India as Train Kills 37

At least 37 people have died after being hit by an express train while crossing the tracks at a remote train station in the Indian state of Bihar, officials say. The passengers, mostly Hindu pilgrims, had just alighted from a local train at Dhamara Ghat station and were on their way to a temple in Saharsa district. An angry crowd is said to have beaten the driver and set two coaches on fire. Senior state police officer SK Bhardwaj said it was difficult to say how many people had died as many bodies had been dismembered. Railway officials said the express train was travelling at high speed as it was not expected to stop at Dhamara Ghat station. But after the accident, it stopped a few hundred years away. An angry mob then pulled out the driver and severely assaulted him.

Several Killed in China Floods

At least 91 people have died and 111 are missing after days of torrential rain and floods in north-east and southern China. More than 840,000 people have been evacuated from Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Guangdong provinces. Almost eight million people are thought to be affected by the floods. China's Xinhua news agency described the floods in the north as the "worst in decades". Incessant rain hit the south in the wake of Typhoon Utor, according to reports. The storm killed 10 people as it passed through Guangdong province last week but heavy rains followed bringing more chaos to the region. Meanwhile, storms battered north-eastern Liaoning from Thursday to Saturday, leaving many rivers flooded in the city of Fushun, Xinhua quoted district officials as saying. The rains cut off railway and road traffic and power in Fushun. Almost 3,000 soldiers are helping with relief efforts, reports say.

Pistorius to Face Murder Trial over Death of Girlfriend

Paralympic sprint star, Oscar Pistorius, will go on trial in March charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine’s Day. Charges of murder carry life sentence in South Africa. Steenkamp died in the bathroom of Pistorius’s upmarket Pretoria home in the early hours of February 14. She was shot in the head, elbow and hip. The athlete known as “Blade Runner”, who is currently out on bail, has admitted to killing her but denied murder, saying he shot Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door because he believed she was an intruder. Prosecutors will argue he is guilty of pre-meditated murder. Magistrate Desmond Nair said the trial would start at the High Court on March 3 and run until March 20. Monday’s hearing lasted only a few minutes, as lawyers had already agreed to start the trial next year.

CAR’s Coup Leader Sworn in as President

Former rebel leader, Michel Djotodia, was sworn in as president of the Central African Republic (CAR) on Sunday, five months after seizing power. Djotodia is tasked with restoring security in the impoverished state and steering the nation through a transition period leading to fresh polls within 18 months. Djotodia swore the oath of office on the Transition Charter, which has substituted for the constitution since the ouster of Francois Bozize, who himself came to power on the back of a military coup in 2003. After ousting Bozize from power, Djotodia’s Seleka rebel alliance won de facto recognition from the international community and a shot at steering the nation through the transition period leading to fresh polls. Djotodia vowed to combat insecurity in an address marking the nation’s 53rd anniversary of independence from France last Tuesday. An African peacekeeping force has begun deploying in the capital Bangui, which seems to be stabilising, even though gunfire could be heard overnight.

Inmates Escape after in Indonesian Jail-Break

About 30 prisoners, penultimate Sunday, escaped from an overcrowded jail on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island after riots erupted. This is the country’s third prison breakout in recent weeks. Officials said several prisoners were recaptured soon after they escaped, but the rest were on the run.  It was not clear what offences the escapees had committed, although the prison is not high-security. Police and soldiers battled to regain control of Labuhan Ruku prison after the inmates rampaged through the jail, attacking warders and starting fires. Denny Indrayana, deputy justice and human rights minister, said there are sometimes security issues in prisons around Indonesian Independence Day, which fell on Saturday. Thousands of prisoners across the country have their sentences reduced on Independence Day, but those who don’t get cuts can be angered.

Security Forces find Bomb Chemicals in Raid of Pakistani Warehouse

Security forces have seized 100 tonnes of bomb-making materials and detained 10 people in a raid in Quetta, south-west Pakistan. The cache contained chemicals used to mix bombs, wires and detonating equipment, says Col Maqbool Shah. They were the same type used in two attacks in the city earlier this year killing more than 120 people, he added. Balochistan province, of which Quetta is the capital, is plagued by Taliban attacks as well as sectarian violence. The raid on the warehouse followed the earlier arrest of two men found driving a truck containing 15 tonnes of potassium chlorate. They reportedly informed investigators of the presence of potassium chlorate, ammonium chlorate acid, detonating equipment and machines to mix the material together at a compound in the city.

Mother Arrested for Planning Assassination of Sons

The South African police, Wednesday, disclosed the arrest of a 50-year-old woman for ordering the assassination of her two sons as part of a suspected life insurance scam. The woman allegedly recruited a relative to carry out the double murder, but the man reported her to the police. The job was to be done for around $2,400 (1,800 euros), but she had requested a family discount. “The alleged motive for the killing was that she wanted to claim on insurance policies she had taken out on her sons,” police said in a statement. The woman allegedly promised the hit-man three more jobs if he successfully pulled off the two murders. Police also found her in possession of insurance documents and four other identity cards. The woman has been charged with a conspiracy to commit murder and will appear in court on Thursday.

25 Killed in Deadly Attack on Policemen in Sinai

Militants, on Monday, killed 25 Egyptian policemen as army-installed rulers escalated a campaign to crush ousted president Mohamed Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood. The assailants reportedly fired rocket-propelled grenades at two buses carrying police in the Sinai Peninsula, sources said, just hours after 37 Brotherhood prisoners died in police custody. The incidents came after Egypt's military chief vowed a "forceful" response to violence roiling the Arab world's most populous nation. Saudi Arabia said that Arab and Islamic countries will step in to help Egypt if Western nations cut aid packages to Cairo over its deadly crackdown on Islamist protesters. Hundreds of people have been killed since security forces began a clampdown on Muslim Brotherhood protests last week.

Two Killed in Attack on Swedish Politician in Somalia

Gunmen have killed two men and wounded Swedish politician Ann-Margarethe Livh, 64, after firing on their vehicle in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, officials say. The three were shot as they were returning to Livh's hotel after she gave a lecture on democracy at the city's university, witnesses said. The motive for the attack is not clear. Somalia is battling an Islamist-led insurgency and high levels of crime. Last week, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said it was closing all its programmes in Somalia because of "extreme attacks on its staff". Somalia has been without an effective central government since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991. Police officer Captain Ali Hussein confirmed the shooting. Ann-Margarethe Livh is a group leader of the Left Party in Stockholm. The two men killed are believed to be a Somali translator and a police officer acting as a bodyguard.

UN Urges Clarity over Syria Attacks

UN officials say alleged chemical weapons attacks which Syria's oppositions says killed hundreds near Damascus were a "serious escalation". The Security Council also said that clarity was needed over the attacks. Some 35 member states called for UN weapons inspectors already in Syria to be dispatched immediately to the scene. Opposition activists said that more than 1,000 people were killed after government forces launched rockets with toxic agents into the Damascus suburbs in the Ghouta region early on Wednesday. The Syrian government has denied the allegations, describing them as "illogical and fabricated".

Manning Given 35 Years Jail Term for Leaks

The US soldier convicted of handing a trove of secret government documents to anti-secrecy website Wikileaks has been sentenced to 35 years in prison. Pte First Class Bradley Manning, 25, was convicted in July of 20 charges against him, including espionage. Manning’s supporters have called on President Barack Obama to pardon the soldier or commute his sentence to time served. Pte Manning will receive a credit against his sentence of about three and a half years, including time he has already served in jail and 112 days in recompense for the harsh conditions of his initial confinement. His defence lawyer David Coombs said Pte Manning would first be eligible for parole in about seven years. Prosecutors had asked for a 60-year sentence in order to send a message to future potential leakers, and Wikileaks called the 35-year sentence a "significant strategic victory".

Egyptian Court Frees Mubarak

An Egyptian court has ordered the release of former President Hosni Mubarak on charges of corruption. But it is not clear whether he will be freed from prison later on Wednesday. The prosecution may still appeal. The 85-year-old is also being retried on charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during the uprising that forced him from power in 2011, reports the BBC. He was sentenced to life in jail last year, but a retrial was later ordered after his appeal was upheld.

Mumbai Journalist Gang-Raped

A 23-year-old photojournalist has been gang-raped by five men in the Indian city of Mumbai, police say. The woman, who was on assignment on Thursday evening in the Lower Parel area when she was attacked, has been hospitalised following multiple injuries she sustained. She was accompanied by a male friend, who was beaten by her attackers. Police say 16 people have been detained. In a similar incident last December, a 23-year-old student was gang-raped on a bus in the capital, Delhi. In that case, the victim and her male friend were brutally assaulted and the woman later died in hospital from her injuries. The incident sparked nationwide protests and forced the authorities to introduce tougher laws for crimes against women. The incident has led to outrage in India.