Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 45

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

JTF, MEND in Exchange of Words over Killing of Two Soldiers

The Joint military Task Force (JTF) Operation Pulo Shield and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) have been trading words over who was responsible for last week’s killing of two soldiers in Rivers State and the bombing of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) refinery in Warri, Delta State. MEND had on Saturday in a statement claimed responsibility for last week’s killing of two soldiers and the explosion at the refinery, saying it was part of its on-going operation ‘Hurricane Exodus’ which it launched against the alleged fraud in the Federal Government amnesty programme. But the JTF called MEND cowards and liars, who wanted to claim responsibility for every action. The JTF Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the NNPC fire incident was accidental and occurred when NNPC engineers were working in the top unit of the refinery.

Nigerian Navy Impounds Vessel Laden with Stolen Crude

The Nigerian Navy has arrested nine Nigerians and three Ghanaians on board a vessel laden with crude oil suspected to have been stolen from Akassa community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State. The suspects were arrested penultimate Friday by operatives of the Forward Operating Base of the Navy, known as FORMOSO, offshore Nun River on board MT FRANKENSEN, allegedly loaded with over 1,092,000 litres of stolen crude oil. The Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Usman, said that the vessel was headed for Tema in Ghana, where the product was expected to be disposed of. The captain of the vessel, Adeyemi Akinleye, has allegedly confessed that they were instructed by the owner of the vessel known as Mr. John George, to load stolen crude oil from two barges around Akassa and thereafter proceed to Tema in Ghana. Usman said preliminary investigation showed at the time of arrest that the vessel could not tender relevant documents and permits required for the movement of petroleum products through Nigerian waters.

Man Butchers Uncle in Ebonyi State

A 32-year-old man, Chinweoru Ugbo, was, last weekend, arrested by the Ebonyi State Police Command for allegedly killing his 78-year-old uncle, Ogbuleji Nwite, with an axe. The crime was allegedly committed at Nsokkara Community in Ezza South LGA of the state over claims that the deceased was diabolically manipulating Ugbo’s destiny. The suspect allegedly lured his victim to a lonely farmland near a neighbouring community in Amagu, under the guise of showing him a piece of land he wanted to purchase. He reportedly inflicted 27 cuts Nwite, unaware that some people saw him. It was gathered that the suspect was caught by the villagers when he was packing his luggage to flee the community. It was also learnt that the suspect, a trader in Imo State, was said to have returned home a day earlier to kill his uncle.

Police Foil Attempt to Sell Day-old Baby

The police in Abia State have foiled an attempt by a child trafficking syndicate to sell a-day-old baby girl. The state Commissioner of Police, Usman Tilli Abubakar, paraded the suspected traffickers and other criminals arrested in October. He said the plan to sell the baby was foiled on October 25 at about 1am when the 16-year-old nursing mother and one Ngozi Mbagwu of Uratta Road, Aba, were arrested on their way to give the baby to the buyer. He added that N1,190,000 was recovered from Mbagwu, adding that the money was meant for the purchase of three babies. The teenage mother said that she dropped out of school after she got pregnant, and was abandoned. She said that she was taken in by a man, who promised to marry her but later arranged for the sale of her baby without her knowledge. She explained that her live-in lover had taken her and her baby and left them with some people who were introduced as his relations and it was when she was resisting their attempt to take her baby by force that the police came to rescue her.

Akwa Ibom Fishermen Demand $1.6 Billion in Compensation for Oil Spill

Fishermen in Unyenge community, Mbo LGA of Akwa Ibom, under Famous Fishing Organisation (FFO), have demanded N250 billion as compensation from an oil company, Universal Energy Resources Ltd (UERL). The chairman of the organisation, Mr Johnson Harry, said that the members were affected by the August 15 oil spill from the company’s oil field in Stubb Creek. According to him, the spill emptied about 2,000 barrels of crude into the Ede Akpa River in the area and has prevented them from fishing-- their only source of their livelihood. He said that the oil spill also destroyed farmlands in the area, affecting the livelihood of 5,000 farmers in Unyenge community. Harry urged UERL to clean up the affected lands and waters in the area, according to international standard. The Public Affairs Officer of the company, Aniefiok Iwaudofia, confirmed the incident, saying the cause of the spill was equipment failure from a ruptured flange on the tank outlet.

Commuters Lament Increasing Pirate Attacks Around Calabar Creeks

Boat operators and traders in Oron, Akwa Ibom, have decried the increasing rate of piracy around the Calabar creeks. The operators and traders said that attacks on boats and vessels have been the major challenge in their business, a development that had led to a hike in water transportation charges. Sources disclosed that vessels navigating within the Calabar creeks, around 40 nautical miles from the Fairway Bouy, up to the Calabar Port, have been operating in fear as reports of attacks on vessels and boats around the port have increased in recent times. According to a source the many islands around the passage leading to the port served as hideouts for militants who carried out illegal operations on the water.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Kidnapped Wives Freed in Benin

The two elderly wives of a prominent businessman in Edo State, Chief Iyayi Efianayi, have been released by their kidnapper. The ladies, Mrs. Grace Iyayi and Mrs. Christiana Iyayi, according to sources were released after the payment of ransom. It was also gathered that to avert any untoward action against the captives, the police were kept out of the negotiation for their release. It was gathered that apart from their containment, the two ladies were not beaten or brutalised by their captors. Grace, 72, and Christiana, 65, were abducted by the kidnappers along Boundary Road near Ogbetuo Avenue junction, GRA, Benin-City. They were on their way to church in the same car with another lady in the front passenger seat and a driver.

JTF Arrests Kidnappers of Edo Judge

A 22-year-old self-confessed member of Kelvin Onyiara’s kidnapping gang, Akpevwe Richards, on Tuesday, said that the kidnap kingpin had over 300 trained abductors spread across several cells in the Niger Delta region. Richards, who was paraded along other suspected criminals by Joint Task Force (JTF) in Benin City, Edo State, confessed to being part of a cell that abducted Edo State High Court judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, and was also involved in the kidnap of a security expert, Ona Ekhomu and his wife, Victoria. The suspect, who was arrested along with a cache of arms and ammunition, charms and other items, admitted to being recruited into the gang by one Rufus. Also paraded by the JTF were three suspected arms dealers, over alleged trade in arms and one Kefas, for parading himself as military personnel.

Community Clash Claims 10 in Edo

A community clash Wednesday claimed the lives of 10 persons, while several cars and houses were destroyed in Ukhuorumi, a community in Oredo LGA of Edo State. An eyewitness said the clash was as a result of a leadership tussle between members of Ukhorumi Community Development Association (CDA) loyal to both the chairman and his deputy. Trouble reportedly started when loyalists to both leaders clash in the quest to either wrest or retain power leading to a free for all fight. Following the clash, the community has been deserted by inhabitants for fear of possible reprisal as many cars and buildings were burnt by the combatants. The Army Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the 4th Brigade, Capt. Roslyn Managbe, confirmed the incident.

76-Year-Old Woman Escapes from Kidnappers Den

Mrs. Otiti Esegba, a 76 year-old grandmother, escaped from the den of her abductors about five hours after she was abducted, Monday. She was abducted at 2am by a five-man kidnap gang at Akperhe community in Olomu kingdom, Ughelli South LGA of Delta State and taken away on a motorcycle. Esegba is the mother of the Managing Director of Ben-Segba Technical Services Limited, an oil servicing firm in Ekpan. Same day, a medical practitioner, Dr. Richard Kofi, a native of Okpare community, also in Olomu kingdom was seized as he was entering his clinic in Ughelli. He also escaped from his kidnappers. Mrs. Esegba, whose pleas to the kidnappers to free her fell on deaf ears, said she began to pray that God should make the two kidnappers guarding her to fall asleep. She said they actually fell asleep. That was when she ran. The other three had left to go and abduct more victims, saying they needed more money. When she escaped, a fisherman took her in.

SSS arraigns Kelvin, Alleged Kidnap Kingpin

The State Security Service (SSS) on Tuesday arraigned suspected kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Ezeigbe, and two members of his gang before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court. Kelvin and members of his gang were believed to be responsible for a number of high-profile kidnapping cases in the South-South region as well as parts of the Federal Capital Territory, including the abduction of the human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, in September. The three, who were brought to the court under heavy security, were arraigned before Magistrate Usman Ahmed Shuaibu under a First Information Report. The accused persons denied the charges against them. The SSS prosecutor, Cliff Osagie, informed the court that investigations into the alleged criminal activities of the suspects were still going on and therefore asked the court for time before the commencement of the trial.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

FAAN Deploys Explosives Detector at Airport

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has deployed modern and sophisticated security machines, known as Advance Threat Identification X-Ray (ATIX), at the international terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The explosive detector has high performance walkthrough metal detector, capable of checking passengers and their hand luggage for explosives, illegal weapons, contraband, narcotics and related items. A statement by the General Manager, Communications, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the deployment of the new system is part of a large-scale upgrade of MMIA entire security measures.

Security Officers Crushed while Rescuing Accident Victims

A policeman and an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), last Saturday, lost their lives while attempting to rescue victims of a road accident in the Ikeja area of Lagos State. Policemen attached to the State Traffic Division were alerted of multiple accidents along Agege Motor Road and had rushed to the scene. The police team, in company with a civil defence officer, were able to rescue all the passengers in the commercial buses after which they were taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. It was learnt that a few minutes after rescuing the victims, the policemen and the NSCDC officer were hit by a reckless driver, while they were attempting to recover the corpses of the pedestrians. Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirming the incident, warned motorists to be safety conscious especially during the ember months and also obey the movement restriction on environmental sanitation days.

Uncle Arrested over Kidnap of 2-Year-Old Nephew

Detectives in Ondo State have rescued a two and half years old boy, Modupeoluwa Saka, who was kidnapped by his uncle, Taju Ayuba, at Ijebu-Owo, Owo LGA of the state. Police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, said the operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, rescued the victim from the kidnappers’ hideout after five days in their den. He said no ransom was paid. The boy was said to have been tied to a chair in an uncompleted building along a road that leads to a popular private university in the town, when he was rescued. Ondo State Police Command arrested the principal suspect, Ayuba, who was said to be on the run. Two of the kidnap suspects, Ganiyu Oseni, and Oderinde Joshua, have been arrested by detectives. Both suspects accused the victim’s uncle (Taju) as the person that masterminded the kidnap.

Man Kidnaps Own Son, Demands Ransom

The Department of State Security Service (DSS), Lagos State Command, Monday paraded a 48-year-old man, Samson Adebayo, who masterminded the kidnap of his son and demanded a ransom of N350,000. Adebayo, with the help of his girlfriend, Kehinde Alonge, had kidnapped nine-year-old Emmanuel from his residence. The State DSS Director, Ben Achu-Olayi, said Adebayo had informed the service and the police in order to make his plan convincing about his missing child. Consequently, the command swung into action with the aim of rescuing the victim and arresting the culprits. Preliminary investigations confirmed the kidnapping incident by Kehinde Alonge who demanded a N350, 000 as ransom. The female suspect was arrested when she went to cash the money from a UBA branch at Ilesa, Osun State. During interrogation, Alonge had fingered the victim's father, who later confessed that he planned his son's kidnap in order to extort money from some of his church members and sympathisers.

Woman Jailed 10 Years over Death of Houseboy

A Lagos High Court, on Monday, sentenced 27-year-old Chiamaka Nnajiofor to 10 years imprisonment for flogging her houseboy to death. The court commuted the murder charge against her to manslaughter, while it discharged and acquitted her 41-year-old husband, Elochukwu Nnajiofor. They had both pleaded not guilty to the murder charge preferred against them by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution. Justice Lateefat Okunnu ruled that Chiamaka’s sentence would commence from the day she was arraigned along with her husband on September 22, 2011. The couple was charged with murder for beating their 14-year-old houseboy, Oliver Arakwe, to death on August 17, 2010. The incident was said to have occurred at the couple’s residence.

Ogun State Police Smash Deadly Robbery Syndicate

The Ogun State Police Command has burst a ring of notorious armed robbers allegedly responsible for the death of no fewer than 25 security operatives in some states in the country. The group is also alleged to have been terrorising the South West, Kwara and Kogi states. A cache of arms and ammunition, recovered from the gang, included two AK47 riffles, a wealthier P22 pistol with 49 rounds of live ammunition, two cut-to-size double barrel guns, 100 rounds of live AK47 ammunition, 55 live cartridges, assorted charms and two packets of Lexomil tablets. The gang members were said to be allies of robbery kingpin, Abiodun Ogunjobi, alias Godogodo, recently arrested in Lagos. The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Okoye Ikemefuna, while parading three members of the gang said the suspects, led by 32-year-old Adegoke Kasali alias Goke, who is physically challenged, had killed no fewer than 21 policemen since 2011.

Security Officer Rapes Student in Ogun

A security guard was, on Tuesday, arrested by Ogun State Police Command for allegedly raping a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. It was gathered that the victim was said to have been returning from a group reading at about 10pm on Monday when she was accosted by the suspect, identified as Lawrence, who instilled fear into her to give her a punishment for walking at night, but ended up forcing her to a hideout where he raped her. The incident resulted in a protest by students of the institution. However, the Public Relations Officer of the state vigilance service, Soji Ganzallo, said the suspect was a night guard, and not a member of the group, adding that it was the vigilante group that arrested and handed him over to the police.

9-Year-Old Dies after Serial Rape by 14-Year-Old

The police in Lagos State have commenced investigation into how a nine-year-old girl died, after sustaining injuries caused by alleged consistent rape. The deceased was allegedly raped over five times by a 14-year-old boy, Onyi Adimabua. The 77-year-old father of the deceased, Simeon Jigo, disclosed that Onyi was the son of the proprietor of the school the deceased attended. He said his daughter opened up about the rape when she started having medical problems. Onyi, accompanied by his parents had reportedly apologised to Jigo’s family. It was learnt that after the girl’s demise, irate youths in the area attempted to lynch the 14-year-old boy. The bereaved father was said to have intervened and reported the matter to a nearby police station, where the teenager was held for safe keeping. Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident.

Man Apprehended with 52 Wraps of Cocaine

Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, have apprehended a 36-year-old man with substance that tested positive for cocaine weighing 855 grammes. The NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said that the suspect, Iwunze Magnus, with a South African passport, was said to have boarded an Iberia flight from Costa Rica enroute Madrid. He was found to have ingested 52 wraps of cocaine at the arrival hall of the airport, three of which he had excreted on the plane during the flight. NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar confirmed the arrest.

Three on Trial over Theft of N135m

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two women and their alleged male accomplice before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja for stealing N135m belonging to a Lagos firm, Lily Pond Container. The women, Tejumola Okemakinde and Ige Egbeyemi, were arraigned along with Olukayode Adeoye before Justice Olutoyin Ipaye. They all pleaded not guilty to all the 34 counts of conspiracy, stealing, forgery, uttering and use of false documents preferred against them by the EFCC. EFCC prosecutor, Fadeke Giwa, alleged that the defendants conspired with Irene Egbeyemi, who is said to be at large, to steal the money between May and September 2011. The prosecution alleged that the defendants forged documents and bank cheques to facilitate the theft. It also alleged that money was deposited in the defendants’ respective accounts. The judge ordered them to be remanded in prison pending the hearing of their bail application slated for November 11.

Man, 37, in Court for Beating Wife to Death

A 37-year-old man, Babatunde Gbolahan, was Tuesday arraigned before a Lagos High Court for allegedly beating his wife to death. The defendant, who was arraigned for manslaughter, pleaded not guilty to the charge instituted against him by the Police. It was gathered that the defendant had an argument with his wife, Yemisi, which led to a fight, during which he beat her to death with a belt and stick. State counsel, Mr WA Quadri, urged the court for an adjournment to enable him produce his witness. Justice Aishat Opesanwo, subsequently, adjourned the case to December 2.

Prison Escapee Re-Arrested after Stealing 20 Cars

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a 32-year-old convict, Kingsley Chibuzor, for snatching over 20 cars between 2011 and 2013. Chibuzor was said to have escaped few months into his sentence from the Kirikiri Medium Prison in 2011, where he was serving a term for malicious damage. After his escape, the suspect was said to have specialised in snatching cars in Lagos, Anambra and Ebonyi states but met his waterloo when he was arrested by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos. He was arrested alongside two members of his gang; Ozoemena Enebeli and Prince Nwafor. The suspect was arrested at the Igando area of Lagos while he was attempting to snatch another vehicle and meet with a buyer.

Policeman Arrested for Raiding Police Station

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a policeman for forcefully entering a police station and attempting to seize a motorcycle from the station. The policeman, Boyi Sambo, allegedly stormed the Eleyeile Police Station with a rifle which had 29 rounds of live ammunition and attacked Quadri Babatunde, a vehicle inspection officer at the unit after his demand for the motorcycle was turned down. The incident, which happened on October 23, resulted in a free-for-all as Sambo threatened to attack more policemen at the station. He was alleged to have shot his rifle into the air while two accomplices, that had yet to be identified, forcefully took the motorcycle away from the police custody. Sambo, however, failed in his attempt to escape from the scene as he was overpowered by the policemen on duty and detained.

Man, 20, Docked for Raping 5-Year-Old Girl

An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court has ordered 20-year-old Oluyi Oba remanded in custody over alleged rape of a five-year-old girl. The police prosecutor, Emmanuel David, told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 22 at 1pm in Iyin-Ekiti. The plea of the accused was not taken. Chief Magistrate Simeon Ojo ordered the accused remanded in prison custody pending the receipt of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. He adjourned the case till November 21 for hearing.

25 Arrested as Commercial Bike Operators Fight in Court Premises

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 25 commercial motorcyclists in connection with violent clash at the premises of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, where dozens of people were severely injured. The warring members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, ACOMORAN, in the state had gathered in the court over a suit filed by the former Secretary of the association, Lateef Yekini, challenging his alleged detention by the association’s Chairman, Alhaji Shamsudeen Apelogun. However, shortly after the case was adjourned by the presiding judge to December 3, the association’s members began to fight at the court premises, leaving the state ACOMORAN Treasurer, Razaq Sotayo, critically injured. It was gathered that the sporadic gunshots of the okada men attracted the attention of security agents, who restored normalcy after some of the fighters were apprehended.

GENERAL

128 Killed in Yobe Terrorist Attacks
…Gaidam Asks for More Troops, Equipment

At least 128 people have died in a five-hour gun battle between troops and members of the outlawed Boko Haram in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. Sources claimed that at least 95 militants, 23 soldiers and eight police officers were killed during the encounter, penultimate Thursday and Friday. Following the attack, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has pleaded with the federal government to deploy more troops to the state. A 24-hour curfew was imposed on the state following the attack. The governor said the federal government and the Defence headquarters need to deplore more men and sophisticated weapons to all the trouble states, which have always been frequently attacked by the insurgents in other to tackle and ward off the attacks in order to win the war against them. A large number of Boko Haram fighters stormed Damaturu after dark, armed with guns and explosives. They attacked and torched four police buildings, sparking a fierce, hours-long gun battle with the security forces.

Boko Haram Kills 4 Soldiers in Attack on Border Community

The members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect, last weekend, launched an attack at a military checkpoint, along Bama-Banki Junction road, close to the Nigerian border with Cameroun, killing four security operatives. The sect members reportedly drove away their patrol vehicles and made away with their arms and ammunition. It was gathered that the gunmen who were fully armed with rocket propelled grenades and Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs), invaded the military checkpoint at 11.26 pm on Saturday and started shooting the security agencies whom they overpowered, killing four of them before taking away with their patrol vehicle. It was also gathered that the suspected terrorists set ablaze the entire houses, filling stations and shops around the popular junction including the security post before they fled into the bushes.

Jonathan Seeks Israel’s Support to Combat Terrorism

President Goodluck Jonathan has sought the assistance and cooperation of the State of Israel in the on-going war against terrorism and insurgency, which is a common threat for both countries. Jonathan made this call yesterday in Jerusalem, Israel during his meeting with the Israeli President, Shimon Peres, before the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) by the Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri. According to him, Nigeria would welcome enhanced cooperation and assistance from Israel on its on-going efforts to end terrorist attacks and incursions in parts of the country.

IGP Seeks Collaboration with US Security Agencies

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, has sought the collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), New York Police Department (NYPD), United Nations and other United States security agencies. The IGP, who was on a working visit to the US, said that his meetings with various security agencies in America were aimed at achieving the required support from the international security agencies and other multilateral bodies, particularly in the area of intelligence gathering, intelligence sharing, exchange programmes, combating terrorism, peacekeeping operations and capacity building, especially on training, manpower and infrastructural development for the Nigeria Police Force. He said that he believed that insecurity would become a forgotten phase in Nigeria with the new collaboration of the FBI, CIA, NYPD, United Nations and other U.S. security agencies.

Police Arrest Five Suspects for Raping 9-Year-Old Girl

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested five suspects for allegedly gang-raping a nine-year-old girl in Jos. The police also said they arrested a native doctor, Emmanuel Bala, for raping his 14-year-old patient. Another suspect, Abdulahi Adams, 31, was arrested for raping a seven-year-old girl, whom he lured into his room, tied her hands, gagged her mouth and raped her several times. The state Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, said the suspects had confessed to the crimes. The five who allegedly raped the nine-year-old girl are Richard John, Zere Adams, Hamza Musa, Ugochukwu Raphael, Emmauel Ibrahim and one Sok Davou, who was said to be at large. The underage girl was said to be their neighbour’s daughter. According to Olakpe, three of the suspects confessed to raping the girl at the same time, while Raphael, Ibrahim and Davou were said to have raped the girl on different days.

Boko Haram: UN Urges Cameroon not to Expel Nigerians

The UN’s refugee agency (UNHRC) has urged Cameroon and other nations not to expel Nigerians who have fled their homes amid fighting between Boko Haram Islamist rebels and government troops. UNHCR’s concerns focus on Cameroon, the choice of refuge for most of the 10,000 Nigerians who have fled during a sweeping government offensive against the rebels that started in May. The UNHCR was alarmed by reports earlier this month that 111 people had been forced by Cameroon’s security forces to return to Nigeria from a border village in Cameroon. Fifteen people were killed in the border zone during the incident, while fled back to Cameroon and were detained, and UNHCR was working with officials there to assess whether they were refugees. Chad and Niger have also taken in Nigerians escaping the fighting, but there have been no reports of forced returns from those countries.

US Firm Negotiates for Hostages’ Release from Kidnappers in Bayelsa

A United States maritime company is reportedly negotiating for the release of two American mariners kidnapped off the coast of Nigeria last week. The U.S. government is not considering any type of military operation to rescue the seamen, officials said. But, the Nigerian Navy Spokesman, Kabiru Aliyu, said that the Navy had deployed search-and-rescue teams, who are currently combing the creeks. The kidnapped men, employees of the maritime transportation company, Edison Chouest Offshore, have only been identified as the captain and chief engineer of the C-Retriever, an oil supply vessel. The FBI is assisting in the matter but is not negotiating directly with the kidnappers, sources said. The C-Retriever was attacked in the wee hours of October 23 by armed assailants. The U.S. government has verified that the two Americans are being held on land.

Senate Accuses Ministry, NOSDRA, Shell of Indifference over Oil Spillage

The Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology has lamented the recent oil spill in Ogoni community in Rivers State and accused the Ministry of Environment of frustrating oversight in the area. The committee also accused National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Shell and oil companies of their indifference to the plight of host communities. Consequently, the committee asked NOSDRA to take proactive steps and furnish it with necessary details on its preliminary findings on the cause of the latest spill, the volume of spill, process of clean up as well as action plan for the assessment of its impact on the affected areas and the livelihood of the community. A statement by the chairman of the committee, Senator Bukola Saraki, which accused Shell as being responsible for this oil spill, also noted that cases of oil spill of that magnitude have been addressed in proposed amendment to NOSDRA Amendment Bill currently in the works.

Former Chief of General Staff, Mike Akhigbe Dies at 68

A former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, is dead. He died in a New York hospital at around 1.06pm, about 7.pm Nigerian time on Monday.  Aged 68, Akhigbe, who was the second in command to the former military ruler, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, was said to have died of cancer-related ailment. The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbodiyan, confirmed his death. Senate President, David Mark, described Akhigbe’s death as the loss of “a brother, confidant, friend and comrade-at-arms.” Mark recalled their days together at the Nigerian Defence Academy, noting that Akhigbe was fearless and very diligent.

Military Foils Attack on Yobe Church

Special Forces from ‘3’ Division of the Nigerian Army arrested a would-be attacker and foiled an attack on a church in Damaturu, Yobe State. The suspect was said to have been driving towards the church from a bush path when he ran into a military blockade and was arrested. It was learnt that the soldiers who arrested him recovered one AK 47 assault rifle, and three Improvised Explosive devices from him. It was further gathered that three Boko Haram members were arrested in the evening of Saturday at Jango, a red light area of Damaturu. It was learnt that the three terror suspects one of whom was injured were said to have been arrested with their AK 47.

Military Adjusts to Combat Terrorists’ Desperation

The Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen Chris Olukolade, has said that the Defence Headquarters had made the required adjustments to contain the desperation of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. He explained that military authorities had noted the recruitment of foreign fighters by the insurgents and had taken the requisite steps to defeat it and ensure the protection of Nigerians and the nation’s territorial integrity. A member of the sect was said to have confessed that fighters from Cameroun, Chad, Niger and other African countries were involved in the on-going battle between the sect and Special Forces. Olukolade said the confession only confirmed the previous position of the military on the desperation of the insurgents.

Troops Kill Scores of Boko Haram Insurgents in Borno

Scores of suspected members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect have been killed in Borno State during attacks carried out by ground troops and members of the Nigerian Air Force. Captain Aliyu Danja said with the support of the air force, some Boko Haram camps were raided in Gowok and Marguba villages, leading to the death of scores of terrorists. He said some of the terrorists who fled the camps into the bushes were pursued by troops. Danja added that the terrorists' camps were sighted through the assistance of members of the public who volunteered information. The informants had told the military that a group of suspected terrorists was sighted crossing the Maiduguri-Damaturu federal highway in Kaga LGA of the state. He said based on the information, the military mobilised troops for the raids during which a large number of the terrorists were killed and their camps destroyed.

Cholera: 1,623 Cases Recorded Nationwide

As the cholera epidemic spread across the country, new figures were Thursday released by the Federal Ministry of Health, putting the number of those affected by the disease at 1,623. Special Assistant to the Minister of Health, Dan Nwomeh, disclosed that 86 persons had died since the outbreak of the disease. The Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the new cases of cholera outbreak surpassed previous records earlier released. He gave the figures of those affected and dead as follows: Zamfara State, 1110 cases, 51 deaths; Nasarawa State, 150 cases, nine deaths; Lagos State, 134 cases, four deaths; Plateau State, 130 cases, 11 deaths, Ogun State, 115 cases, five deaths, bringing the total number to 1623 cases and 86 deaths. The ministry directed that free medical services should be offered to Cholera victims in all public hospitals across the country as a way of arresting the spread of the disease.

Senate Seeks Punishment for Policeman over Rape of Toddler

The Senate, on Thursday, unanimously agreed that the maximum punishment should be meted out to a police corporal, Anthony Onoja, for allegedly sexually assaulting a 2-year-old girl. This was as it also urged the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to commence prosecution of the police officer who was said to have committed the offence in Nasarawa State two weeks ago. The Senate resolution followed a motion, “Cruelty to Infants”, moved by Senator Helen Esuene. She said even though the matter was immediately reported to the Police, the case was yet to be charged to court. She said Nigeria had been witnessing various acts of cruelty to babies, including kidnapping, abuse and outright sales as cheap commodities.

Deputy Governor Cautions Local Vigilante against Abuse of Power

The Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha, on Monday warned members of the local vigilante group popularly called “Civilian JTF’’ against taking laws into their hands. Mustapha gave the warning when he spoke on reports of alleged actions of some members of the group. Mustapha said that it was only law enforcement agencies that had the power to arrest or detain suspected criminals or Boko Haram militants. The deputy governor said that the state government was concerned about the modus operandi of some members of the vigilante group.

Army Send New Spokesman to 7 Division Borno

The Nigerian Army has appointed a new spokesman, Lt. Col. Mohammed Dole, to head its public relations unit at the 7 Division, Maiduguri, Borno State to replace Lt. Col. Sagir Musa. Musa was in charge of the new division briefly after it metamorphosed from the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Restore Order.  The new spokesman, Dole sought for the cooperation of journalists. He said both the media and security agencies all over the world were partners. He urged the media to continue to play pivotal role in the on-going counter-insurgency campaigns of the federal government.

Farmers/Herdsmen Clash in Jigawa

At least one person was killed and three others wounded in a clash between farmers and herdsmen in Guri LGA of Jigawa on Friday. The farmers and herdsmen engaged themselves in battle at Dorawaji village at about 11.30pm penultimate Friday. Mr Muhammad Gidado, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), confirmed the incident. A resident, Malam Musa Bulama, said the crisis erupted when farmers accused herdsmen of leading cattle to graze in their farms. Similarly, a 27-year-old man, Ibrahim Lawal, was, on Wednesday, shot dead at Tigirmis Village in Batagarawa LGA of Katsina State as Fulani herdsmen clashed with the villagers. The spokesman of the state police command, DSP Aminu Abubakar Sadik, who confirmed the murder, said the herdsmen were on transit from Jibiya boarder with Niger Republic to Kano. The police spokesman said investigation confirmed that the deceased confronted the herdsmen while passing through his farm and argued with them when he was shot.

Fake Assistant Commissioner of Police Arraigned in Court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned one Kunle Adeshola for allegedly parading himself as an Assistant Commissioner of Police. Adeshola was arraigned on seven counts of impersonation, forgery and obtaining under false pretences, before Justice Hussain Baba of the FCT High Court in Abuja. The EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said that Adeshola had allegedly presented himself to the Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, claiming he had been assigned to discreetly investigate employees of the corporation. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, asked the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the accused person in prison.

INTERNATIONAL

Bomb Kills Wedding Guests in Afghanistan

Anti-Mandela Plotters Jailed 35 Years

The ringleader of a White supremacist plot to assassinate former South African President, Nelson Mandela, and drive black race out of South Africa, Mike du Toit, has been sentenced to 35 years in jail. The former university lecturer was last year convicted for treason over his leadership role in attempting to assassinate the former South African leader in 2002. The history lecturer and other 19 members of his Boeremag group were sentenced to jail. Du Toit, who was found guilty of being behind nine bombings in Johannesburg and Soweto townships in 2002, was also guilty of authorising a blueprint for revolution intended to evict black race from South Africa and established a racially pure nation. Du Toit was the first person to be convicted for treason in South Africa since the white minority rule ended in 1994.

Egypt Detains Muslim Brotherhood Leader

A fugitive senior Muslim Brotherhood leader, Essam el-Erian, has been detained by the Egyptian authorities. Prosecutors ordered his arrest in July, after the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi. The arrest is the latest move in a government crackdown against the Islamist movement which is now banned. Erian was expected to stand trial on November 4 along with Morsi and a dozen other officials. Erian is vice chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood's political wing. Mr Morsi is charged with inciting murder and violence in connection with clashes outside the presidential palace in December 2012. The former president's supporters announced on Monday that he had rejected the court's authority. Separately, the three presiding judges at the trial of Mohammed Badie, the Brotherhood's general guide, and his deputy, Khairat al-Shatir, stepped down on Tuesday, halting proceedings. The judges were retiring from the case for "reasons of conscience".

42 Killed in India Bus Fire

At least 42 people were reported dead after the luxury bus they were travelling in caught fire in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh, police said. The bus, carrying more than 50 passengers, was travelling from Bangalore city to Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh's capital, when the incident happened on Wednesday. Seven people, including the driver, managed to escape the blaze. Police say a collision with a culvert ignited the fuel tank of the vehicle. The incident happened when the bus hit a culvert, police said. The fire started when part of a faulty axle dropped on to the road and ruptured the bus's fuel tank. Most of the passengers were sleeping when the incident took place. Seven people, including the driver and his assistant, broke the windows of the bus and managed to flee. Local police spokesman Venkateshwarlu, said that the police had arrested the driver and his assistant who tried to run away.

Israel Frees another Batch of Palestinian Inmates

Israel has released the second of four batches of 26 Palestinian prisoners, as part of a deal for the resumption of peace talks. Five prisoners were released in Gaza, while the other 21 were sent to the West Bank. Those freed were all convicted of murders and had spent between 19 and 28 years in prison. Israeli and Palestinian officials resumed direct talks in Jerusalem in August after a three-year hiatus. In Gaza, fireworks shot into the sky as the former inmates were driven away in a convoy. In the West Bank, the freed prisoners were taken to Ramallah. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the next batch of prisoners would be released in two months, and called for all Palestinians to be freed. All but one of those released on Thursday were imprisoned for murders committed before the signing of the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords.

Four French Nationals Freed after 3 Years in Captivity in Niger

Four French hostages kidnapped in Niger in 2010 have been released, France's President Hollande has announced. The French defence minister said the four men were freed without a military assault or a ransom being paid. They were seized on 16 September 2010 in raids targeting two French firms operating a uranium mine near Arlit. The al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) group said it was responsible. It appears the men were set free in Mali. The Islamist group AQIM has operating bases in northern Mali. These were badly disrupted in the French military intervention earlier this year, when it was feared the hostages might be killed in reprisal.

Watchdog Confirms Syria has Destroyed Chemical Facilities

Syria has destroyed all of its declared chemical weapons production and mixing facilities, meeting a major deadline in an ambitious disarmament programme, the international chemical weapons watchdog said. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said in the document its teams had inspected 21 out of 23 chemical weapons sites across the country. The other two were too dangerous to inspect but the chemical equipment had already been moved to other sites. Under a Russian-American brokered deal, Damascus agreed to destroy all its chemical weapons after Washington threatened to use force in response to the killing of hundreds of people in a sarin attack on the outskirts of Damascus on Aug. 21. The U.S. and its allies blamed Assad’s forces for the attack and several earlier incidents. Under the disarmament timetable, Syria was due to render unusable all production and chemical weapons filling facilities by November 1 and by mid-2014 it must have destroyed its entire stockpile of chemical weapons.

Storm Kills Eight across Europe

A storm that battered north-western Europe, last week, killed eight people, according to reports. Two people died when their car was crushed by a falling tree in Gelsenkirchen, in western Germany. In Brittany, western France, a woman was swept out to sea. And in the Dutch city of Amsterdam a tree felled by the wind crushed a woman. Many trains were cancelled in and around London and in north Germany. In many cases in the UK fallen trees had to be cleared from railway lines. At least 50 flights have been cancelled at Schiphol airport in the Netherlands. In the UK as many as 600,000 homes suffered power cuts, t 42,000 homes in northern France, suffered same.

Gang-Rapist Gets Life Sentence over Rape, Death of Girl, 17

A South African man found guilty of the rape and brutal murder of a 17-year-old girl has been sentenced to two life terms in prison by a court near Cape Town. State prosecutors had requested this sentence - without parole - for Johannes Kana. Anene Booysen died in February, hours after she was mutilated in a gang-rape and attack that shocked the country. South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world. Ms Booysen was left for dead at a construction site near her house and later died in a Cape Town hospital after she had been raped and disembowelled. During the trial, doctors who treated Ms Booysen described her horrific injuries - one said they were the worst injuries she had ever seen.

Israeli Aircraft Carries Strike near Syrian Coastal City

Israeli aircraft have carried out a strike near the Syrian coastal city of Latakia, official says. The official said the strike targeted Russian-made missiles intended for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Latakia is a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, where his Alawite community is concentrated. This is believed to be sixth Israeli attack in Syria this year. Israel does not comment on specific operations. Israeli officials have repeatedly said it would act if it felt Syrian weapons, conventional or chemical, were being transferred to militant groups in the region, especially Hezbollah. Reports of the strike came as the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said all Syria's declared equipment for making chemical weapons had been destroyed, one day before a deadline. A US official said the Israeli strike took place overnight from Wednesday into Thursday. Neither Israel nor Syria has commented on the reports. Earlier this year, Mr Assad had promised to respond to any future strikes by Israel.