Villeworth Security Services Ltd

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

82 Sea Pirates Killed, 1,857 Crude Oil Thieves Nabbed in 2013

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, said it killed 82 sea pirates and robbers, lost three of its operatives in active service in 2013 to sea pirates, while three others got drowned. The task force also said its operatives killed 23 kidnappers and conducted 1,025 anti-illegal oil bunkering patrols leading to the destruction of 1,951 illegal refinery camps and arrest of 1,857 crude oil thieves. Over 1,117 Contonou boats, 82 tanker trucks, 81 barges and 1,873 surface tanks were destroyed during the 2013 operational year. Commander of JTF, Major-General Bata Debiro, disclosed this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state. According to the JTF commander, three of its soldiers were killed by sea pirates in Rivers State, while three others drowned in a river near Akassa in Bayelsa State. He said operatives of the command killed over 23 kidnappers, arrested 236 suspects and recovered several weapons from the hoodlums.

Navy Destroys 1,556 Illegal Oil Refineries, Nabs 1646 Suspect in N’Delta

Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, on Monday, disclosed that the Nigerian Navy destroyed 1,556 illegal oil refineries and arrested 1,646 suspects in 2013. Ezeoba disclosed this at the launch of the Chief of Naval Staff Strategic Guidance (SG) 02 in on Monday in Abuja. According to him, the Navy, had between October 2012 and September 2013, arrested more than 1,646 suspects and handed them over to the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for trial. He said that the incidence of piracy and sea-robbery in waters had been reduced considerably.

Naval Chief Links Insiders to Sea Piracy in Niger Delta

Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Dele Ezeoba has blamed the activities of insiders for the incessant attacks on ships in Nigerian waters especially in the Niger Delta region. This is coming following the recent attack on Marshal Island-flagged vessel, MT. ALCHE and abduction of a Ukrainian captain and a Greek engineer by pirates off the coast of Brass. Speaking in Brass, Bayelsa State shortly after inaugurating the Maritime Regional Awareness Capability (RMAC) centre, Ezeoba said investigations of similar incidents in the past by the navy revealed that some crew members working for companies' ships gave out information about the locations of their vessels to pirates. He assured that the navy was dealing with the situation, and that the Nigerian maritime space was safe despite pockets of criminal activities.

Police Deny Killing Akwa Ibom Youths in Christmas Day Clash

Four persons were feared killed and many others wounded when the Police and community youths clashed at an event to mark the Christmas celebration in Okon Eket village in Eket LGA of Akwa Ibom State. But the state Police Command, Thursday, refuted the claim that the victims were killed by the police, saying the killing took place before the arrival of security operatives to stop the escalation of the incident. Christmas day, celebrated by the people of the area as “Okon Day” turned violent when masquerades reportedly blocked major roads that link other parts of the state. The action of the masquerades was said to have caused stampede in the community as vehicles, travellers and Fulani herdsmen were attacked. Policemen were mobilised to the scene which resulted in a violent confrontation as there was exchange of fire from both side. While the community claimed that the deceased were killed by the police, the command denied it, saying the death occurred before the arrival of the security operatives.

Soldier Dies in Boat Convoy Crash

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), narrowly escaped death last Sunday when a boat in his convoy lost control and crash into the mangrove forest along the Ogbia-Nembe waterways, killing a soldier instantly. Two other soldiers sustained serious injuries along with the driver of the boat. The deputy governor was on his way to his country home in Nembe on a visit. The boat driver was said to have lost control of the vessel, veered off the water and crashed into the mangroves at about 8 a.m. The Media Coordinator of the JTF, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the accident but denied that the soldiers were attached to the deputy governor. He insisted that nobody died from the accident.

Shell to Sell Off $2bn Assets in Niger Delta

Royal Dutch Shell is to start the sale of $2 billion oil and gas assets in the Niger Delta in 2014 after weak refining margins and crude oil theft in Nigeria forced the company’s profits to tumble. The $2 billion Niger Delta assets, according to reports, are part of the $30 billion assets the company would sell off next year. They include oil assets in the Niger Delta worth $2 billion; a $7 billion stake in Woodside Petroleum, Australia’s second largest oil and gas producer; and other assets totalling $20 billion. The $30 billion disposal plan could be unveiled as early as January 2014, and would be the largest in the Anglo-Dutch oil group’s history.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Naval Chief Advises Trainees on Commitment to Service

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Goddy Anyankpele, has advised graduating trainees of the Nigerian Naval Engineering College (NNEC) Sapele, Delta State to remain within the bounds defined by the Nigerian Navy (NN) as their actions at all times have impact on the image of the navy. The FOC, who gave the advice at the trainees’ graduation ceremony, said the trainees’ good conduct would be their honest contribution to the present drive of rebranding the image of the service. Represented by the Commandant of the College, Commodore Ayoolasoji Bello-Odofin, Anyankpele further stated that training in the military was continuous and demanding because the impact of the military's failure on a nation and individuals could be devastating.

JTF Urges Adoption of Technology to Safeguard Oil Pipelines

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Niger Delta’s has called for the deployment of Information Communications Technology (ICT) gadgets to checkmate oil theft and pipeline vandalism. The Commander of the JTF, Maj.-Gen. Batta Debiro, said that the taskforce remained committed to safeguarding oil and gas facilities, “in spite of difficult terrain and logistic challenges.” Debiro, who canvassed for the adoption of international best practice in the surveillance of oil pipelines, noted that installation of sensors in the pipeline network would instantly send signals once any sabotage attempt is made. He urged oil firms operating in the country to embrace the technology to complement the efforts of the JTF in safeguarding oil and gas installations. He further disclosed that, from January to date, the JTF conducted a total of 1025 anti-illegal oil bunkering patrols and destroyed over 1951 illegal refineries. On pipeline vandalism, the JTF chief noted that the menace was drastically reduced with isolated cases occurring in remote locations with limited accessibility due to the swampy nature of the region.

Kidnappers Collect N1.5m Ransom, Kill Victim

A 43-year-old nurse, Bridget Osawaru, who was abducted on December 10, has been found dead. Bridget was abducted at her residence along Sapele road in Benin, Edo State. Her abductors had collected N1.5m three days after her kidnap, but refused to release her until she was found dead. Bridget’s body was found near Okhuahie hill, in Uhunmwode LGA of the State. Police sources said injuries were found on her body, which indicated that she might have been stabbed. It was gathered that the police were working on the theory that she could have been assassinated. The case had been transferred to the homicide section at the state police headquarters.

Edo Sacks 836 Teachers after Verification Exercise

A total of 836 teachers have been sacked by the Edo State government, following a verification exercise carried out by the government. Commissioner for Basic Education, Patrick Aguinede, confirmed the figure of the sacked teachers, adding that the exercise was necessary, after a screening exercise carried out by the state government. He said those sacked were found to have spent more than the maximum years in service, mentally unstable, physically blind and have falsified their age and credentials. The affected teachers were said to have known about their sack after they discovered that their names were missing from the December salary voucher. The state secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Akin Adeojo, said the union had heard about the sack, adding that the affected teachers had not been issued sack letters.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Lagos Seals 429 Defective Buildings, Stops Construction of 838 Others

The Lagos State Government, Monday, revealed that it had ordered the closure of over 400 buildings in different parts of the state due to the rising spate of collapsed buildings. The government also disclosed that it had directed construction of more than 830 buildings be put to a halt to due to what it considered threat to life and property if such work was allowed to continue. The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye, who gave the figure, said 429 buildings were sealed while eight illegal structures were demolished within the period of one year.

Policemen Killed in Kwara Bank Robbery Attack

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police (CP), Agboola Oshodi-Glover, on Monday said that seven police men lost their lives during armed robbery attack in Offa town penultimate Thursday. He said that three civilians were also killed, while three other people remained hospitalised due to injuries received during the attack. The ancient town of Offa was on December 19, 2013 thrown into panic following the invasion of over 30 armed robbery bandits that invaded four commercial banks in the town. During the incident, ten people were killed by the bandits while several millions of naira was carted away by the armed robbers.

Robbers Kill Advertising Guru in Lagos

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Eminent Communications Limited, one of the biggest advertising agencies in the country, Mr Sesan Ogunro, was shot and killed in the Alausa area of Lagos State, penultimate Sunday. According to police authorities, the victim was shot on Jobi Felle Way, Alausa, around 10.40pm by a four-man robbery gang. The victim was said to have been returning from a church programme with members of his family, who were in a separate car, when they were accosted by the robbers. The robbers were said to have attempted to snatch the victim’s car, but he was said to have refused to cooperate with them. The robbers snatched his wife’s Toyota car and sped off. Police authorities said preliminary investigations revealed that the Honda vehicle, which the robbers used for the operation, was stolen from one Ali Balogun in the Ebute Meta area of the state two hours before Ogunro was attacked. Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said that efforts were on to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

Woman Loses Pregnancy after Alleged Assault from Lebanese Boss

A 34-year-old woman, Mrs. Alexandra Ossai, has accused her Lebanese boss, Kaveh Noine, of causing her to lose her seven-month-pregnancy after he kicked her in the stomach. Ossai, who until December 13, 2013, was a supervisor with a Lebanese owned firm, Toppan Printing Company, alleged that Noine assaulted her many times during her eight months stay at the company. Currently at a private hospital in the Fagba area of Lagos State, Ossai said that she had undergone emergency surgery four days after the kick to save her life as her placenta was said to have been damaged. Police spokeswoman, Ngozi Braide, said, that the incident was not reported to the police until after five days and that when the police arrived at the suspect’s workplace, they were informed that he had travelled. Meanwhile President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the Nigeria Police Force, the ministers of Interior, Labour, Health and Women Affairs, as well as the National Human Rights Commission, to probe the matter.

Suspected Pipeline Vandals Nabbed with Truckload of Fuel

Three suspected pipeline vandals have been arrested in Ilorin, Kwara State, by the anti-vandalism unit of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigerian (IPMAN), Ilorin chapter. The chapter Chairman, Alhaji Rasheed Olopade, said that one of the suspects, Lekan Oladepo, and another, identified simply as Badmus, were arrested at the scene of the alleged crime at Pele/Araromi Road in Ogbomosho by the security outfit of IPMAN. He explained that the two suspects were arrested with a full tanker-load of petrol, while other suspects escaped. He added that the third suspect, Muritala Jimoh, was the owner of the tanker used for the illicit venture. The IPMAN boss decried the activities of vandals, saying they had inflicted huge financial losses on their business, and had also caused fuel scarcity in the area. The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Olufemi Fabode, confirmed the arrest, saying that the police had commenced investigation into the matter.

Woman Strangles 2-Year-Old Son

A 20-year-old woman, Titilayo Odedele, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for strangling her two year old child to death. Odedele has reportedly confessed to committing the crime because she could not afford a babysitter for him. The defendant, who was arraigned on one count of murder, said she had no one to help her take care of the child after she was impregnated and thrown out of her parent’s home. The magistrate, O.O Olatunji, who was obviously shocked by the defendant’s action, said she could have left the baby in the church for people to take, instead of killing him. The investigating police officer, Fatai Popoola, in a remand request, indicated that Odedele was arrested the day after the incident on the road. He said she had also made confessional statements to the police.

NDLEA Nabs Four Suspected Drug Traffickers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Tuesday, said it arrested four suspected drug traffickers connected with unlawful importation of 2.375kg of substances that tested positive to cocaine. The NDLEA spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said that the suspects were arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos during routine screening. Ofoyeju said that the suspects were arrested with 144 wraps of cocaine concealed inside the inner wear of two of the suspects. Ofoyeju urged members of the public with useful information on illegal drug activities to contact any of its offices nationwide.

Briton, 4 Others Remanded in Custody for Alleged N15bn Fraud

Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Monday ordered the remand of a Briton, Gareth Wilcox and four others at the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) for alleged N15 billion fraud. Wilcox, a former Managing Director of Ibom Power Company and LYK Engineering Company, is standing trial alongside Prince Johnson Adebami, and Uche Uwechia, on a 21-count charge bordering on the offence. Adebami is a former Managing Director of the defunct Gulf Bank Plc, while Uwechia is a former legal adviser to the bank. Also charged along with the accused are Ibom Power Company and LYK Engineering Company, owned by Wilcox. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Yunusa ordered their remand at the SFU following an oral application for remand made by the prosecutor, Dania Abdullahi, who said he required adequate time to study the bail application sought by the accused.

Army, Police Placed on High Alert for Yuletide

Men of the Nigeria Army (NA) and the Nigeria Police have been placed on high alert in strategic places in Lagos and other parts of the country to forestall any untoward breach of security during the Yuletide season. The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Obi Umahi, said there would be no room for loopholes or breach of security. Umahi said all these would be in partnership with sister agencies as they have always done in the past. This was made known as the police said they have also set in motion comprehensive operational strategies to boost security effectively during this yuletide and beyond. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, made this disclosure at the end of his meeting with other members of the police management team. In statement the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, said all the strike forces and specialised units had been adequately mobilised to join forces with the conventional police in providing water-tight security.

Christmas Day Road Accident Kills 5 in Lagos

At least five persons, including a baby, lost their lives on Thursday in an early morning accident at the Alaba area of Lagos. According to an eyewitness account, a trailer heavily laden with goods had fallen on a commercial bus with passengers, killing a mother, her baby and three others while leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries. Although the incident happened at about 9am, rescue operation to bring out those trapped began only at about 12pm when rescue workers were called in. Among those rescued was a woman who had both legs fractured from the impact of the crash. Confirming the incidents, the spokesperson, South-west zone of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, appealed to motorists and commuters to exercise utmost patience on the roads, especially during the yuletide.

Lagos Speaker Lauds Police over Rescue of Kidnapped Cleric

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has commended the Nigeria Police Force over the rescue of a kidnapped cleric. The former Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Dr. Peter Akinola, was kidnapped on December 24 along the Abeokuta axis of the Ibadan-Lagos expressway. He was rescued on the 25th of December by men of the Ogun state police command. He said it was imperative therefore that government must properly equip the police. The speaker also said the time had now come to also approve the take-off of state police as earlier advocated for in some quarters. Ikuforiji urged governments at all levels to create jobs for the teeming youths in 2014 so as to reduce social vices in the country.

GENERAL

Military Defends Apo Killings

The army, on Monday, defended the killing of eight persons during a military operation at Apo District of Abuja on September 20, 2013. Appearing before a three-man panel of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, said the army acted promptly to avert what would have amounted to collateral damage in Abuja. A non-governmental organisation, Global Rights, and the National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (NATOMORAS) had jointly filed a petition before the NHRC, calling for a probe of the incident. Meanwhile, the NHRC has declined the request by the State Security Service (SSS) to have its officials testify in secret in the on-going enquiry. The SSS would testify in the open at the NHRC headquarters on January 7. The security agencies had claimed the victims were suspected terrorists who first attacked officials, but witnesses and residents described the attack as unprovoked; saying that the victims were homeless tricycle riders and petty traders.

Repatriation of Nigerians from Saudi Arabia Begins

About 80 Nigerians, who were Wednesday, repatriated from Saudi Arabia, arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday. The deportees were among the first batch of 508 Nigerians lined up to be repatriated from the Holy Land for staying in the country illegally. They arrived on board an Ethiopian Airline plane at about noon. The Assistant Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Daniel Obot, said the Federal Government approved their repatriation following their individual decision to return home voluntarily. He disclosed that NEMA would hand them over to the various state officials of State Emergency Management Agency once they are cleared.

Jonathan Orders NHRC to Probe Rights Abuse Allegation

Following allegations of various human rights violations contained in the 18-page letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan, the president has directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate the said rights abuses. Acting on the instruction of the president, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), forwarded Obasanjo's letter to the commission for investigation into the alleged rights violations contained in the letter. The AGF, in a memo dated December 23 and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, requested the commission to investigate the allegations bordering on human rights violations contained on pages 9-10 of the letter.

SSS Parades 7 for Kidnapping, Killing

The operatives of State Security Service (SSS), on Tuesday, paraded Sulaiman Mohammed, a Lance Corporal with the Nigerian Air Force and six others for allegedly kidnapping a businessman, who later died 11 days after his release. The SSS said the men were caught after the mastermind of the criminal act, Mustapha Isah, was arrested and later confessed to the crime. According to reports a prominent Sokoto-based businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Abu Dankure, was, on November 6, 2013, kidnapped at his construction site in Sokoto. Dankure was released by his captors on November 11, 2013 and died 11 days later. The suspect also confessed to have collected $290,000 ransom in Kwali Area Council of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), after which he ordered the release of the victim, who was under their custody for five days. While others confessed to have been part of the kidnap, Lance Corporal Suleiman Mohammed denied any involvement and insisted that he only sold a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to Abdullahi Musa.

DHQ Confirms 50 Insurgents Killed in Borno

Defence Headquarters has confirmed that over 50 insurgents were killed and about 20 vehicles destroyed in an operation it carried out on Monday night. The Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said the operation was carried out to track insurgents who carried out the last Friday pre-dawn attacks on Mohammed Kur Barracks in Bama LGA of Borno State. The military said the vehicles that were destroyed were the ones used during the attack on the barracks. Meanwhile, Governor Kassim Shettima of Borno State has denied reports that women and children were kidnapped by Boko Haram, during an attack on Army barracks in Bama. The terrorist group had launched an attack on the army barracks, but were repelled by the military through aerial bombardment that left scores of the insurgents dead.

Soldiers Kill Student at Check Point in Katsina

Soldiers in Katsina State, on Thursday, opened fire on a commercial vehicle, killing one of the passengers. Captain Ikedichi Iweha, the JTF spokesman in the state, confirmed the incident Iweha said that the soldiers opened fire on the vehicle when the driver attempted to beat a military check point at Batagarawa area of the state. He said that one of the passengers in the vehicle was hit and died instantly. The JTF spokesman said that the affected driver had been arrested while the vehicle had been placed under the custody of the army. Iweha said that investigation into the incident had also commenced. An eyewitness disclosed that the driver allegedly attempted to overtake a truck at the check point. The deceased was later identified as Umar Ali, 22, a student of Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina. The deceased was travelling along with his friends to Minna, Niger, for a wedding ceremony when the incident occurred.

50 Feared Dead As Boat Capsizes in Benue

A boat conveying passengers, on Thursday, capsized in River Buruku in Buruku LGA of Benue State, killing about 50 persons, while several others remain missing. River Buruku is a tributary of the River Benue and flows along a beach where youths picnic. The passengers, including men and women were fun seekers, who were at Buruku Beach to mark Boxing Day when the tragedy struck. The incident occurred at about 8.45pm when the boat had taken aboard passengers at the crossing terminal before it capsized minutes after starting its journey. The State’s police spokesman, Daniel Ezeala, who confirmed the incident, said that the number of casualties was yet to be ascertained and investigation was in process, while a rescue team was still searching for victims in the river.

Boko Haram Insurgents Abduct Soldiers Wives, Kids

Nigeria’s military is in hot pursuit of Islamic extremists who abducted soldiers’ wives and children when they attacked a barracks in northeast Nigeria, witnesses. The bodies of presumed terrorists killed in Friday’s attack on a tank battalion in Bama town are rotting in the desert heat but residents say they are too scared to bury them. Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade said security forces have killed at least 50 insurgents in an on-going operation to catch the attackers. Fifteen soldiers and five civilians died in Friday’s attack on a tank battalion in Bama and in the pursuit, he said in a statement. Bama said the extremists “abducted many women and children and took them away.” The leader of the Boko Haram terrorist network, Abubakar Shekau, has repeatedly warned that they will retaliate with kidnappings of the family of security forces.

Lebanese Kidnapped in Kano

Suspected gunmen in Kano Monday kidnapped a Lebanese national, Hassan Zein, at Sharada Industrial Area in the Kano state. The spokesman of the police in the state, Musa Magaji Majiya, confirmed the abduction of Zein. According to him, unidentified gunmen stormed the area between 7:30am to 8am on Monday and abducted the man. He said Zein, who was the Managing Director of a plastic company, was abducted at the premises of his company, M.C Plastic Company. The police spokesman said the command had also commenced special operation within Kano and its environs since the incident happened with a view to rescuing the man and arresting the suspects. He said that the command had mobilised its personal and alerted all the patrol teams and check points within the metropolis with a view to tracking down the suspects.

Auto Crash Claims 9 in Gombe

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), on Monday, confirmed that nine persons died while four sustained injuries in two separate car accidents in Gombe State. The Sector Commander in Gombe state, Kuteb Galadima, disclosed that the accidents occurred between Sunday and Monday. The first accident involved a Toyota Starlet and Water tanker at 7pm on Gombe bye-pass. He said the starlet stopped at a police check point when a water tanker lost control and crushed it, killing all the four passengers in the car and a police man checking the vehicle. Galadima said the second accident occurred in Shongo Idrissa area of Gombe on Gombe-Bauchi road on Monday and involved two cars. He said the other accident was caused by wrong over taking which led to the death of four of nine passengers on board the two cars. Galadima called on motorists to be cautious while driving, to avert possible occurrence of accident this yuletide season.

Suspected Herdsmen Kill Two in Kaduna

Gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, launched an attack on Madakiya Community near Zonkwa in Zango-Kataf LGA of Kaduna State penultimate Saturday night, killing two persons. Aside the two people were said to have been killed during the attack, scores of others were also seriously injured and were being treated in an undisclosed hospital in the area. Eyewitness said the gunmen raided the Fatsunwan village, shooting sporadically and in the process killed two men on the spot. Fatsunwan, a predominantly Christian enclave in the Southern part of Kaduna State, has been under attacks by suspected herdsmen who had yet to be apprehended. Meanwhile, the police in Kaduna said on Sunday that troops had been deployed in the troubled zone. Police spokesman, Aminu Lawan, disclosed that men of the command were on the trail of the gunmen.

Fulani, Goat Sellers’ Clash in Benue Claims 10 Lives

The Otukpo LGA Chairman, Dr. Innocent Onuh, on Monday imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on Otukpo town, as over 15 persons were feared dead in clashes between Fulani herdsmen and goat sellers in Guma and Otukpo LGAs of Benue State. The crisis erupted when some Hausa goat sellers flouted the directive of the council to desist from trading at the town’s central mosque. Their arrest sparked angry reaction from Muslim youths in the area, who felt that their kins were being unduly harassed. They reportedly resorted to making bonfires directly on the highway, which led to heavy traffic jam on either side of the road that links the north and eastern part of the country. In trying to disperse the protesting youths, the Police resorted to shooting into the air to scare them away, which led to a stampede and the death of one man and the injury of eight others. This further escalated the crisis.

Inferno Destroys 22 Shops, Other Properties in Kano

At least 22 shops were destroyed and properties worth millions of naira lost during an inferno at Makole, Dawakin Kudu LGA of Kano State in the early hours of Thursday. The Public Relations Officer of the state fire service, Mallam Kasim Musa, disclosed officers of the service were able to put off the fire, saving some of the properties from the inferno. Musa said in spite of the enormity of the disaster, no life was lost, adding that the cost of the damage was yet to be determined. He warned people to be safety conscious, particularly during the harmattan season. One of the victims, Sani Ali, said they were still in shock having lost belongings worth millions of naira to the incident.

INTERNATIONAL

Musharraf’s Trial Postponed over Security Fears

The trial of Pakistan’s former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, has been postponed after explosives were found on his route to court in Islamabad. The special court hearing on treason charges against the former president will now take place on January 1. On Monday, his petition that only a military court could examine his actions was rejected. The charges relate to his decision in 2007 to suspend the constitution and impose emergency rule. Musharraf, who is on bail in several other cases, says all the accusations against him are politically motivated. The 70-year-old also faces separate charges of murder and restricting the judiciary. He is the first Pakistani former military ruler to face trial for treason. Police said 5kg of explosives along with a detonator and two pistols had been found along the route between Mr Musharraf’s house and the National Library, where the hearing is taking place. Police chief, Muhammad Asjad, disclosed that the material had not been assembled into a bomb. The court granted Mr Musharraf a one-off exemption, but said he must appear on 1 January when charges will be read to him.

Report Alleges Ethnic Killings in South Sudan

New evidence has emerged of alleged ethnic killings committed during the fighting in South Sudan. The violence follows a power struggle between President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, and his Nuer ex-deputy, Riek Machar. Witnesses disclosed that more than 200 people, mostly from the Nuer ethnic group, were shot by security forces. Another man in Juba said gunmen from the majority Dinka ethnic group were shooting people in Nuer areas. The fighting first erupted in Juba a fortnight ago and has spread throughout South Sudan, with rebels supporting Machar seizing the major towns of Bor and Bentiu, north of the capital. Kiir has accused Machar, who he sacked in July, of mounting a coup. But Machar denies he is trying to seize power, while the government has denied it is behind any ethnic violence. The official death toll stands at 500, but aid agencies say the true figure is likely to be much higher. Another 81,000 people have been displaced, the UN’s humanitarian agency says.

12 Killed as Car Bomb Detonates in Egypt

A car bomb attack at a security building in northern Egypt has killed at least 12 people and injured more than 100, officials say. The blast led to the partial collapse of the building in the city of Mansoura, north of Cairo. Among the people injured is the head of the security directorate of Dakahlia governorate. Interim Prime Minister, Hazem Beblawi, described the incident as an act of terrorism. Attacks on the security forces have gone up since the army removed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July. No group has so far claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s blast. The military-backed interim government said it was an attempt to scare people ahead of next month’s referendum on a new constitution – but that the violence would not disrupt voting. The authorities say they will strike against the guilty with an iron fist. Reports say the provincial security chief was among those hurt. Officials said most of the casualties were police officers.

Mozambique Plane Crash Intentional -Report

The pilot of a Mozambican airliner that crashed in Namibia last month deliberately brought the plane down, aviation experts in Mozambique believe. Mozambican Airlines flight TM470 left the capital Maputo bound for Angola on November 29, but crashed, killing all 33 people all board. The Civil Aviation Institute said the pilot made a “deliberate series of manoeuvres” causing the crash. The pilot’s motives are unknown, and the investigation is continuing. But the head of the Civil Aviation Institute, Joao Abreu, said that the pilot, Hermino dos Santos Fernandes, had a “clear intention” to crash. Dos Santos Fernandes locked himself in the cockpit, and did not allow his co-pilot back inside until moments before the plane hit the ground, Abreu said. Investigations also showed that Dos Santos Fernandes manually changed the aircraft’s altitude three times and altered the aircraft’s speed. Investigators said they had detected “no mechanical malfunction” that could have led to the crash, and the plane was one of the newest in the airline’s fleet. Mozambican Airlines is currently banned from airspace in the European Union, along with all other carriers certified in Mozambique, because of safety concerns.

Seven Die as Suicide Bomber Attacks Security Checkpoint in Libya

Seven people have been killed at a security checkpoint near Benghazi in the first known suicide bomb attack in Libya since the fall of Col. Muammar Gaddafi. The attacker reportedly targeted the checkpoint in the village of Aguiria, close to Banghazi. At least eight people, including soldiers and civilians, were wounded. The security situation in and around Benghazi has been worsening in recent months, with extremist militia blamed for almost daily attacks. This latest incident reveals a shift in tactics away from the bombings and assassinations that have mainly targeted the security services. Waiting civilians as well as soldiers were among the victims. No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the village is a known stronghold of the Islamist militia group Ansar al-Sharia.

UN Increases Efforts to End Bloodshed in South Sudan

International efforts are being intensified to end the bloodshed in South Sudan, where thousands of people are believed to have died in the past 10 days. The UN Security Council is almost doubling the number of peacekeepers to 12,500 in the world’s newest state. US Secretary of State, John Kerry, urged both President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar to end hostilities and begin mediated political talks. The fighting has exposed ethnic divisions in South Sudan. Mr Kiir is an ethnic Dinka, while Mr Machar represents the Nuer tribe. The violence erupted on 15 December when Mr Kiir accused Mr Machar, who was vice-president until his sacking in July, of plotting a coup. Mr Machar denies trying to seize power. The UN international police force in the country will also increase from 900 to 1,323. The Security Council vote authorised the temporary transfer of troops, police and equipment from UN missions in a number of African countries. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that there could be “no military solution to this conflict”.

Several Arrested in Egypt under Anti-Terror Law

Egypt stepped up pressure on the Muslim Brotherhood a day after declaring it a terrorist group, using the new classification to detain dozens of its supporters on Thursday, while one person died in street clashes ignited by political tension. A bomb blast in a Cairo suburb wounded five people - the second attack this week after a suicide bomber killed 16 people north of the capital on Tuesday. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who led the overthrow of President Mohamed Mursi in July, said Egypt would be "steadfast" in the face of terrorism. The Cairo bomb, which blew windows out of a bus, appeared to be the first aimed at civilians in a recent wave of attacks. But there was no claim of responsibility to say what had been targeted. A second device found nearby was defused. The government declared Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group on Wednesday in response to the suicide attack that targeted a police station a day earlier in the city of Mansoura. It accused the group of carrying out the bombing, which the Brotherhood condemned.

Bodies Recovered after Violence in CAR

Red Cross workers have recovered 44 bodies from the streets of Bangui, capital of Central African Republic (CAR). The bodies were recovered after inter-religious fighting in the last two days. Six Chadian peacekeepers have also been killed in the former French colony, while judicial authorities said they had uncovered a mass grave with 30 bodies, many of them showing signs of torture, near a military base used by Seleka rebels. The rebels seized power in March, unleashing a wave of looting and killing on the mostly Christian population. Thousands of French and African troops have struggled to contain a flare-up in violence in the last week. The mostly Muslim Seleka and Christian self-defence militias have carried out tit-for-tat attacks on each other and on the local population. Georgios Georgantas, head of an International Committee of the Red Cross delegation, said the 44 bodies were probably only a fraction of those killed in Bangui between Wednesday and Thursday. A spokesman for the African Union peacekeeping mission (MISCA) said Chadian peacekeepers were attacked by gunmen in the Gabongo neighbourhood near the airport on Wednesday.

US Aircraft Hit by Gunfire in South Sudan

A United States aircraft came under fire from unidentified forces last weekend while trying to evacuate Americans from a spiralling conflict in South Sudan.  The US military said four of its members were wounded in the attacks. The US aircraft came under fire while approaching the evacuation site, the military’s Africa Command said in a statement. The aircraft diverted to an airfield outside the country and aborted the mission. The statement said all of the three Osprey CV-22 aircraft involved in the mission had been damaged. Consequently, US President, Barack Obama warned that any move to take power by military means would lead to an end of US and international community support for South Sudan. The United Nations mission in South Sudan said one of four UN helicopters sent to Youai, in Jonglei state, had come under small-arms fire. No crew or passengers were harmed. Hundreds of people have been killed in the fighting between Dinka loyalists of President Salva Kiir and Nuer supporters of former Vice-President Riek Machar, who was sacked in July and is accused by the government of trying to seize power.

Iran Dissidents Killed in Missile Attack

A rocket attack has killed three members of an Iranian opposition group in Iraq. The group and its parent organisation say a number of people from the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) group were injured at Camp Liberty in Baghdad. The government has in the past repeatedly denied attacking the group. The Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the MEK’s parent group, said dozens of missiles hit the camp on Thursday evening. It said two residents were killed and a third later died in hospital of his wounds. The camp is located in a former US military base, near Baghdad’s airport. The Iraqi authorities have made no public comments on the report.

Six Peacekeepers Killed in CAR Unrest

Dozens of people have been killed, including six peacekeepers from Chad, in the latest violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), officials say. The peacekeepers were attacked by a Christian militia known as anti-balaka in the capital Bangui on Wednesday. At least 40 other people have also died since Wednesday, Red Cross officials said. African Union and French troops are battling to end a Christian-Muslim conflict that has engulfed CAR. Militias from the Christian and Muslim groups have been involved in attacks and counter-attacks since Michel Djotodia installed himself as the country’s first Muslim ruler in March, ousting then-President Francois Bozize, who came from the majority Christian population. Many Christians accuse the Chadian government of being allied to the Seleka rebel group, which propelled Djotodia to power, while Muslims allege that French forces are siding with Christian militia. The circumstances surrounding the death of the Chadians remain unclear.

34 Children Die in Muzaffarnagar Relief Camps

At least 34 children have died in relief camps set up for thousands of people who fled their homes during Hindu-Muslim clashes in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in September, a report says. The report also said 4,783 people were still living in five relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts. More than 60 people died in the clashes in September. The riots were described as the worst in India in a decade. Thousands of people fled their homes in the violence which was sparked by the killing of three men who had objected to the harassment of a young woman. A report by a government appointed panel said at least 34 children, aged below 12, had died in the relief camps. There were reports in the Indian media that many of these children had died of severe cold.