Weekly Security Report Weekly Report week 3 week 3
PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS
Women Protest against Shell in Bayelsa
Hundreds of half-nude women in Peremabiri community in Bayelsa State, during the week, staged a protest against non-implementation of an existing agreement by Shell. The women disrupted movement of workers into the oil platforms and boat houses operated by Shell in the area, alleging non-implementation of the memorandum of understanding Shell entered into with the community. The protesters claimed that the oil firm had adopted delay tactics to avoid providing the amenities which they said were time-bound. Reacting to the development, the spokesman for Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, Precious Okolobo, urged the aggrieved women to adopt the spelt-out channel of addressing their grievances.
Court Frees 4 Policemen, Doctor of Murder Charges
Four policemen and a medical doctor, who were standing trial for alleged murder and manslaughter, were, Wednesday, discharged and acquitted by an Imo State High Court. The policemen and the medical doctor were Corporal Achonu Kelechi, Martins Lifu, Chukwuka Obugagbe and Nnama Asukwo as well as Dr Fidelis Onu. While the four policemen had earlier been charged in suit for alleged murder of a traditional ruler, Eze Emeka Njoku, Fidelis Onuh was charged in another suit for allegedly killing his wife, Grace Onuh. In separate judgments, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Benjamin Njemanze, held that the prosecution failed to prove the cases beyond reasonable doubt.
Monarch’s Mother, Girl in Bayelsa
Unknown gunmen have reportedly kidnapped the mother of the paramount ruler of the coastal town of Agrisaba in Nembe LGA of Bayelsa State and her granddaughter. The woman, Ikhiogha Walter, 74 and her granddaughter, Yellow Joseph were abducted Sunday morning. She is mother to the Obanema of Agrisaba, HRH, MS Walter Agiri, who was appointed some months back in the wake of the chieftaincy tussle that rocked the community. It was reliably learnt that the kidnappers were masked and stormed the community in two boats. It was gathered that immediately the woman identified herself and tried to seek one of her details to assist the visitors, she was abducted. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Alex Akhigbe, confirmed he incident, saying the police are working round the clock to rescue the victims.
Explosion, Inferno Damage Rivers High Courts
Two High Courts in Rivers State were during the week, hit by explosions. The Ahoada High Court in Rivers State was hit by an explosion on Monday, just as another high court at Okehi in Etche LGA was razed by suspected arsonists. The Ahoada High Court presided over by Justice Charles Wali was billed to hear a case between the leader of the anti-Governor Chibuike Amaechi lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, Evans Bipi and the leadership of the assembly. The court had also last month restrained Bipi from parading himself as speaker of the assembly. The first explosion occurred at about 2 am. Those who were close to the court thought that it was a bomb because of the shattering sound of the explosion. One of the objects suspected to be an improvised explosive device (IED) was said to have also exploded at the block housing the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) before the arrival of the police bomb disposal unit at about noon. The Rivers State Police Command denied the report of a blast in the court, but confirmed that a device suspected to be an explosive was retrieved from the court premises.
Gunmen Kidnap Six-Year-Old Boy, Demand N50m as Ransom
Kidnappers in Bayelsa State are demanding a N50 million in ransom for the release of Okali Powel, a six-year-old boy. Okali, a son of a former Commissioner for Local Government in the state, Godknows Powell, was abducted by gunmen on New Year’s Day in Yenagoa. The boy was in the company of his mother and on their way back from the church when the kidnappers accosted them and whisked him away. The abductors subsequently contacted the family and warned against involving security agents in their negotiations. The victim's father served as commissioner in the administration of Timipre Sylva. He was also the Chairman of Yenagoa LGA during the tenure of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha as governor.
BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS
150 Armed Robbers Arrested by Police in Benin Zone — AIG
Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police, Zone 5 command, Hashimu Argungu, said on Tuesday that 150 armed robbers were arrested in a total of 124 armed robbery cases reported in 2013. The zone comprises the three states of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa. Argungu said the figure was against 163 reported cases and 181 arrests made in 2012. The AIG said 2013 witnessed a drastic reduction in crime and criminality, owing to the crime preventive strategies put in place in the zone. Giving a breakdown of major crimes in the zone, Argungu said 70 kidnappers were arrested in 43 cases reported. He said the figure was against the 43 reported cases of kidnapping and 101 arrests in 2012. Argungu said 70 kidnap victims were rescued in 2013, as against 52 rescued the previous year. Similarly, he gave the number of ammunitions recovered to be 10,150 as against 9,480 recovered in 2012. Argungu said while firearms recovered in 2013 were 205, 198 were recovered in 2012.
Navy Warns against Falsehood, Sensationalism in Media Report
The Nigerian Navy last night warned media practitioners in the country against sensationalism and outright falsehood in their reportage. The Navy gave the admonition while reacting to a report by a national daily alleging the invasion of the oil-rich Ugborodo community in Warri South-West LGA of Delta State. The report, which was widely circulated in several online newspapers and the social media, also alleged that at least six persons were killed. The Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Hassan Usman, described the reported invasion and killing of people in Ugborodo as entirely false and baseless. Admiral Usman went on to explain the necessity and modality for the formation of the ad-hoc security committee at the instance of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, stressing that the Nigerian Navy was not involved in the intra-communal feud in Ugborodo community or any other community in the state for that matter.
Army Cautions Soldiers against Befriending Oil Thieves
The Nigerian Army has warned its officers and men attached to the Sector 1 of the Joint Task Force (JTF) against befriending oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta region. The army authorities also said efforts to tackle oil theft had led to increase in the production capacity of oil companies in the region. The out-going Commander of the JTF, Major-General Bata Debiro, who gave the warning in Benin-City, the Edo State capital, said Federal Government was worried about the activities of oil thieves in the country. Debiro said most of the over 1,500 illegal refineries destroyed in 2013 were located in Bayelsa, Delta and River States. He commended soldiers for being diligent to duty, urging them to show compassion, interest and passion towards fighting criminals in the region.
Police, Varsity Partner on Intelligence Gathering
As part of the efforts in curbing the activities of terrorists in the country, the Nigeria Police Force has partnered Novena University (NU), Ogume, Delta State to train its personnel in intelligence gathering to combat insurgency and insecurity in the country. Speaking after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG), 'E' Department, Marvel Akpoyibo, stated that the training of intelligence officers would help the police to battle complex crimes and terrorism. According to him, NU was chosen because it could provide the platform for training police intelligence personnel with capacity to widen their scope of knowledge and understanding. The Vice-Chancellor, NU, Professor Chris Okoroafor, said the cost of the training would be shared by the force and the institution, stressing that his school was the only college with a department of intelligence and security studies in West Africa.
LAGOS AND ENVIRONS
Ondo Police Command Arrest 203 Suspects in 2013
The Ondo State Police Command Monday disclosed that a total number of 203 suspects of various crimes were arrested by the command while 61 arms were recovered last year. The Commissioner Police, Patrick Dukumor, who disclosed this, also disclosed that 488 rounds of live ammunition, 62 live cartridges were recovered from the suspects while 20 expended cartridges were picked from scenes of crimes. Also, 30 vehicles of different brands were recovered during the period under review. Dokumor said the command had relentlessly fought against crimes throughout last year in line with the transformation agenda of the administration as directed by the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar. He added that considerable improvements in the command’s strategies have yielded positive results in the onslaught against criminality compare to 2012.
Teenager Kills 12-Year-Old for Ritual
An 18-year-old man, Ikechukwu Friday, has narrated how he strangled a 12-year-old girl for money ritual. The suspect said he had gone to beg a pastor for money when the pastor instructed him to kill a young girl and obtain her faeces, which he did. He said the pastor promised him N100, 000 if he was able to accomplish the task. Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said the suspect was arrested by neighbours in the area and handed over to the Badagry Police Division. Braide said the pastor, who allegedly gave the suspect the instruction had been arrested and was already cooperating with the police.
Homicide, Cultism on the Rise in Kwara -CP
No fewer than 61 cases of homicide were recorded in Kwara State in 2013 as against 30 recorded in 2012, according to the State Commissioner of Police, Agboola Glover-Oshodi. A statement on crime prevention/reduction strategy of 2013 and plans for 2014, which was signed on his behalf by the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the command, Zanna Ibrahim, also showed that three cultism-related cases were recorded in the state in 2013 while none was recorded in 2012. The CP, however, claimed that there was overall decrease of crime cases in the state by 137 as he posited that 803 crimes were recorded in the state in 2012 as against 666 cases in 2013. He added that armed robbery cases decreased by six from 15 in 2012 to nine in 2013.
Suspected Kidnapper Escapes Death in Osun
A 30-year-old man was on Wednesday beaten to a pulp by residents of Temidire Estate at the Okejetu area of Osogbo, Osun State, for allegedly attempting to kidnap a two-year-old girl from her mother’s shop. The suspect had gone to Mrs. Folake Oni’s shop to buy a bottle of soft drink. After his first drink, he requested another bottle. But as the woman went inside to bring the drink, the suspect was said to have grabbed the girl whose name is Marvelous. The mother, on coming back, discovered that the customer and her baby had disappeared and she raised the alarm. An eyewitness, who declined to reveal his identity, said that the woman on sighting the kidnapper ran after him and continued shouting for help. Passersby later joined her in hot pursuit of the suspect, and caught up with him.
Customs Seizes 2 Truckloads of Fake Pharmaceuticals
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, has seized two Mercedes Benz trucks loaded with assorted fake pharmaceutical products. The Controller of the Command, Isa Mahmud, said the seizure was made on Sunday when his men intercepted the two trucks around 10am along Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway. The operation was led by Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Yahaya Biri Usman with other officers, including CSC Shuaibu Mohammed Salisu. He praised the courage, resilience, dexterity and operational competence of the team in coordinating and effectively carrying out the operation seamlessly.
Soldiers Deployed in Ekiti over Drivers’ Clash
Soldiers were, on Thursday, deployed in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital following the clash between factions of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN). They were stationed at strategic locations including motor parks, apparently to forestall possible escalation of violence which broke out on Sunday between the factions. The drivers were fighting over the control of the union’s leadership. Dangerous weapons were freely used during the clash. The Union’s national leadership was said to have set up a fact-finding committee. The members insisted that the Chairman, Rotimi Olanbiwonninu (aka Mentilo), as according to them, he had spent nine years in office, against the constitutionally approved eight years. While it could not be ascertained who the union resolved to pick as the next chairman, the current executive council might be relieved of their offices including, the chairman.
Fuel Tanker Explosion Kills 15 in Lagos
A fire disaster at the Cement Bus-stop along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway involving a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petrol, has left 15 persons dead and several others with varying degrees of injuries. The inferno, which started at about 11p.m on Tuesday, was finally put off at about 1am by a deluge of fire servicemen and rescue operators. According to an eyewitness report, the tanker had somersaulted while trying to avoid the huge craters on the road and then exploded from the impact of the crash. All attempts by the combined team of fire fighters from the Federal and State Fire Service, Capital Oil, Julius Berger and Swift Oil, to limit the effect of the inferno proved abortive as it spread rapidly, engulfing over 50 shops including banks, shops and residential buildings. Asides the buildings that were razed, the fire also burnt over 20 cars as well as goods and properties running into millions of naira.
Four Killed as Cultists Clash in Ilorin
No fewer than four people were feared dead after clashes between suspected two rival cult groups at Baboko in Ilorin, the Kwara State, on Thursday. Though the immediate cause of the clashes was not certain, it was revealed that the suspected cultists fought over an unnamed young lady. It was also learnt that while the police were preparing to take the corpse of the first victim to the mortuary, the suspected cult members reignited their bloody clashes in the same area. After the clash, three people were feared dead.
NDLEA Alleges Illegal Drug Firms in Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Thursday warned that Lagos residents were being exposed to poisonous waste from some illegal methamphetamine factories in the state. The agency’s spokesman, Mr Mitchel Ofoyeju, disclosed that the agency uncovered a total of six such clandestine drug manufacturing laboratories in Lagos in 2013. The NDLEA spokesman said one of such laboratories was also uncovered in Anambra State, while 12 suspected manufacturers were arrested nationwide in the year under review. He said the agency believed the laboratories could be found in any location, either in the streets or estates within residential areas. Ofoyeju stated that such houses usually did not have sign posts, but chemical waste and coloured water could be easily seen in the drains around them. He called on members of the public to watch out for various ways of identifying clandestine laboratories.
Suspect Hides Illicit Drug in Palm Oil
A taxi driver, Peter Okwuokei, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for delivering a gallon of palm oil containing 9.2kilogrammes methamphetamine for export to South Africa. The discovery was made during the screening of cargoes on a South African Airline flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos. NDLEA Lagos Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, while confirming the arrest, said Okwuokei was arrested for attempting to export 9.2kg of methamphetamine to South Africa. He said the drug was packed in 41 parcels and hidden inside a gallon containing palm oil. Okwuokei however claimed ignorance of the drug. The father of four said he was contracted to take the gallon of palm oil to the airport.
78 Rape Suspects Arrested in 2013 -Osun CP
At least 78 rape suspects, 15 suspects arrested for defilement and 70 robbery suspects were arrested by the Osun State Police Command in 2013, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Dorothy Gimba. Gimba also revealed that a graduate of Computer Science and Engineering, Olawale Peters (34) from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, and four others were arrested for stealing 28 laptops, eight digital cameras, mobile phones and other computer accessories, valued at over N6 million. The suspects were said to have stolen the electronics/communication gadgets from a computer accessories shop in Osogbo. The Commissioner of Police stressed that the command carried out diligent investigations of all cases and employed prompt response strategies in achieving the feat recorded in 2013. She said the command with the help of the state government and other security agencies restored orderliness and peace to the crisis-ridden communities of Oba-Oke and Oba-Ile in Olorunda LGA of the state as well as Ido-Oshun and Ede.
Robbers Attack Kill Pastor in Ogun
A gang of armed robbers stormed Redstar Estate in the Magboro area of Ogun State on Sunday, killing a senior pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God. It was learnt that the victim, Tunde Olawuwo, was killed by the robbers for refusing to cooperate with them. According to Police authorities, armed men stormed the estate around 2.55am and robbed two houses before attacking Olawuwo’s house. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, said the matter was being investigated at the Ibafo Police Division. Adejobi said the police were able to intercept the robbers and kill one of them.
Three Charged for Alleged Attack on Police in Lagos
The police in Lagos, on Monday, arraigned a 41-year-old bus driver, Wahab Taofeek, and two women, who allegedly attacked a police post and assaulted an officer. The other accused are Funke Bello, 48, and Saratu Moradeyo, 40. They are standing trial on three-count charge of rioting, assault and malicious damage at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chinalu Uwadione, told the court that the accused with others still at large unlawfully assembled and attacked Elere Police Post, Agege. According to Uwadione, the accused also assaulted one Sgt. Festus Omotosho and members of his patrol team on December 27, 2013. The accused pleaded innocent. Ruling on the bail application, the Magistrate, Miss A.O. Akinde, granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety each in like sum. She adjourned the case to February 2 for mention.
Police Threaten Clamp Down on RTEAN Leaders over Clashes in Ekiti
The Ekiti State Police Command have threatened to arrest the leadership of the state chapter of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) should members of the union continue with the violence unleashed on people of the community last week. The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Victor Babayemi, said that the police would not allow the crisis to threaten the security and relative peace being enjoyed in the state. The union members had penultimate Friday protested in Ado-Ekiti, in an attempt to remove their state Chairman, Rotimi Olabiwonu, on the premise that he had spent nine years on the position, contrary to the eight years specified in the union’s constitution. The PPRO urged the aggrieved RTEAN members to adhere strictly to the resolution arrived at during a meeting held with them on Saturday by the state government and police top hierarchy in an effort to control the violence.
Community Protests Killing of Kinsmen by Herdsmen
Hundreds of people of Ketu constituency in Yewa North LGA of Ogun State have protested over killing of four of their kinsmen by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The protesters lamented government’s failure to decisively address the unabated killing going on in Ketu Constituency. They called on the governor to speedily constitute implementation committee as contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 among the Ketu people, the state government and Fulani herdsmen in the state.
GENERAL
30 Killed, Houses Torched in Plateau Attack
About 30 persons were, on Monday, killed and 25 others severely injured when gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked Shonong village in Bachit District, Riyom LGA of Plateau State. Also, about 40 houses were burnt in the attack and domestic animals belonging to the villagers slaughtered in large number, with many others taken away by the attackers. A source from the village said the attackers stormed Shonong community in the morning, shooting indiscriminately at the people and killing about 30 victims in the process. A survivor of the incident, Shom Toma, said the attackers stormed the village at about 7am in their hundreds, when most of the villagers had gone to farms, killing mostly children, women and the aged. The Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly and member representing Riyom constituency, Hon. Daniel Dem, lamented that the Special Task Force (STF) in the area were not on ground to save the people. Thirty three bodies recovered from Shonong village in Riyom LGA of Plateau State, raided by gunmen on Monday, have been given mass burial. Eleven of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition.
Soldiers Kill 38 Suspected Terrorists in Borno
At least 38 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect were in the early hours of Thursday, killed by troops of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army. The terrorists were raided while allegedly planning to attack Damboa town in Borno State. A statement in Maiduguri by the spokesman for the division, Col. Mohammed Dole, said the troops, working on information, responded timely, killing 38 of the insurgents. The statement further revealed that one soldier was killed while two others sustained injuries. Three vehicles - one Sienna LE, laden with cylinders and Improvised Explosive Devices, one 911 truck loaded with 200 bags of food stuff and one Mitsubishi canter truck - were recovered. It also disclosed that a large cache of assorted arms of high caliber weapons and ammunition comprising of General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), Light Machine Guns (LMG) and two AK 47 rifles were seized. The statement said a combined ground troops and Nigerian Air Force aircraft were tactically pursuing the fleeing terrorists in the general area of Damboa and surrounding villages.
Boko Haram Suspect Corroborates Army's Account on Apo Killing
A suspected member of the Boko Haram sect, on Tuesday, told a panel of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) investigating the killings of squatters in an uncompleted building in Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that members of the sect met regularly at the uncompleted building before he was arrested. The suspect, Mohammed Adamu, who made the confession when members of the commission visited the uncompleted building where eight people were killed on September 20, 2013, said the group had planned to attack government institutions in Abuja before they were arrested. Adamu said that one Suleiman, who is at large, was the leader of the sect in the area and they met thee time weekly at the uncompleted building. Speaking after the examination of the site, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Bem Angwe, said the commission would conclude its public hearing at the end of the month and would make its findings public.
Laleye is New Army Spokesman
The Nigerian Army has a new Director of Public Relations in the person of Brig-Gen. Olajide Laleye, who succeeds Brig- Gen Attahiru Ibrahim, who was redeployed to command the 13th Brigade in Calabar. Attahiru, while speaking during the handing over ceremony at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, for the opportunity to serve the army as the Director of Information and his current command appointment. The new spokesman, Laleye, assured that the Directorate of Army Public Relations would bring into sharp focus all that the Nigerian Army has achieved in the fight against terrorism. He also noted that Nigerian Army had recorded huge success in their on-going quest to transform into a modern force better to tackle the contemporary security challenges.
27 Foreigners Arrested in Adamawa
The Adamawa State Commissioner of Police (CP), Godfrey Okeke, has revealed that 27 foreigners have been arrested by the police with the aid of other security agencies along the borders of the state. Okeke, while reviewing the success of his command in 2013, added that 55 persons had been convicted for various offences. The Commissioner said 220 suspects were also apprehended and she paraded with 1,161 live ammunitions and 30 live cartridges recovered by his men last year before members of the press. He said 15 armed robbery suspects were killed in exchange of fire with the Nigeria police during the year under review, and that 21 stolen vehicles were recovered by command. Okeke said 118 suspects had also been charged to court for various offences adding that the command has during the year under review arrested 61 armed robbery suspects and 22 armed robbery suspects reported to the command.
NUJ Threatens to Withdraw from Reporting STF
The Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has threatened to withdraw from reporting the activities of the Special Task Force (STF) on the state crisis, if urgent steps are not taken to put a stop to the ceaseless bloodletting in the village communities in the state. The union lamented that for the past four years, the state has been engulfed in sectarian violence and the union had, through these years, reported these events. The communiqué signed by the state Chairman and Secretary of union, Katdapba Gobum and Isaac Shobayo, respectively, noted that the ceaseless attacks, and that affected communities had more often than not accused members of the task force of culpability in some of these attacks, which they alleged were sometimes carried out by men in security uniform. The union, therefore, urged the commander of the task force to investigate all allegations against possible culpability and connivance of his men in some of these killings.
Jonathan Pledges Support for Security Agencies
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said that the Federal Government would continue to support the police and other security agencies to enable them to discharge their duties effectively. He gave the assurance at the Police Academy, Wudil, during the passing out ceremony of Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Inspectors. Jonathan, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, said that the government support was necessary to enable the police and other security agencies to tackle all the security challenges facing the country efficiently. Jonathan said that the Federal Government would also strive to improve the quality and numerical strength of the police and other security agencies. The president commended the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, for his commitment to efforts to reposition the police force for effective service delivery.
FG Deploys Explosive Detectors in Airports
The Federal Government has deployed hi-tech explosive screening equipment at 15 of the 22 airports in the country. This was done in line with the Federal Government’s renewed efforts at boosting safety and security at airports nationwide. The spokesperson for the aviation parastatals, Yakubu Dati, said on Tuesday that between July 2011 and October 2013, the Federal Government procured and deployed hi-tech three-in-one liquid, metal and explosive detection screening equipment in all Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria-controlled airports. He explained that the deployment of the hi-tech security equipment was part of efforts by the government to raise the bar in airport safety and security, adding that the equipment had been fully installed at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja.
Electricity Vandals Jailed 4 Years in Kano
A magistrate court in Kano has sentenced three accused vandals to four years imprisonment each after they pleaded guilty to the charges of vandalising electricity installations. While delivering judgment at the Magistrate Court 6 Gidan Murtala Kano, Justice Kabara said the action of the convicts was punishable under the law. He noted that the Jogana Injection Substation belonging to Kano Electricity Distribution Company which was vandalised supplies electricity to many industrial, commercial and residential customers along the Hadejia road axis, including Tokarawa industrial layout, Gunduwawa and Jogana.
JTF Captures Bomb Maker, Rescues Women and Toddlers in Jigawa
Operatives of the Joint Security Task Force (JTF) have arrested a terrorist suspected to be a bomb manufacturer in Kazaure LGA in Jigawa State after a gun battle at the suspect’s residence. The spokesman of the JTF, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, disclosed that one terrorist was apprehended, while three women and three toddlers were rescued unhurt from the incident. He further disclosed that five AK 47 rifles, five magazines, and 333 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and various improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered from the residence after an intensive search. According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is an IED manufacturer and his residence had been used as a staging ground for terrorist activities in Kano. He promised that the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Kano would not allow its area of operational responsibility to be used as haven for terrorists. Iweha also enjoined members of the public to go about their normal lawful businesses without any fear and to contact the JTF in the event of any distress or suspected terrorist activities for rapid response.
10 Killed in Southern Kaduna Crisis
About 10 natives of Moroa chiefdom in Southern Kaduna were feared killed in a bloody clash between herdsmen and natives last Sunday. A native of the area also further that six Fulanis were also killed in the violence while many houses were set ablaze, appealing to the state government to send a reinforcement of security to the area. The violence occurred in Bungel, Moro’a Chiefdom in Kaura LGA of the state, which also left many inhabitants of the area with injuries from machete cuts. The chairman of the Local Government, Honourable Kumai Badu, confirmed the incident to journalists, adding that there was a quick intervention from the military strike force here and everywhere was calm.
NAF Establishes Warfare Centre in Kainji
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has established a new Air Warfare Centre in Kainji, Niger State. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, announced the establishment of the new NAF platform on Monday, during the redeployment of some senior officers of the Service. The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, explained that the changes, which followed similar action by the Nigerian Army and Navy, were required, following the recent promotion of its senior officers. He appointed Air Vice Marshal (AVM) AA Zannah to take charge of the newly established Air Warfare Centre, Kainji; while AVM SB Abubakar is the new Air Officer Commanding, Training Command, Kaduna and his predecessor, AVM I Umar, moves to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Policy and Plans.
Over 5,000 Nigerian Personnel Working for UN Peace Keeping -CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim, has disclosed that there are more than 5,000 Nigerians currently working in various capacities in the United Nations including troops supplied for various peacekeeping missions all over the world. Ibrahim stated this on Wednesday when the delegation of UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support, visited him in Abuja as part of their on-going survey of cost implications of about 10 countries involved in UN Missions. He commended the delegation for including Nigeria in the list of countries that will benefit from the survey, adding that the country has contributed a lot to the world body including over 5,000 personnel. The CDS has however decried the situation where the country is denied its benefits and entitlements, saying Nigeria's contribution to UN Peacekeeping efforts have not been compensated enough.
Three Killed as Invaders Attack Kwankwaso’s Hometown
The Police in Kano have confirmed that three persons were killed by gunmen on Tuesday night, when they attacked Kwankwaso village, the hometown of the state Governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso. The spokesman of the police in the state, Musa Magaji Majiya, disclosed that 12 other persons were injured and were admitted at the Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching hospital (AKTH) for treatment while no arrest had so far been made. The identity, motives and target of the assailants are yet to be established, investigation has already commenced, the spokesman said. The police also said there was an exchange of fire with attackers, which led to the death of three persons and injuring of 12 others. Some gunmen had on Tuesday attacked Muslims faithful while observing their last prayer (Isha’i) at Kwankwaso village which is nearby the state governor’s father palace.
Saudi Arabia to Repatriate Detained Nigerians- Envoy
Nigeria’s Consul General in Jeddah, Ambassador Ahmed Umar, on Tuesday, said that Nigerians still detained in Saudi Arabia would be repatriated home soon. Umar said in a statement that the ongoing deportation of illegal immigrants in Saudi Arabia followed the expiration of the November 30, 2013, deadline given to such persons to regularise their stay. He, however, said that the last batch of 508 Nigerians, who voluntarily decided to return home, was repatriated from Saudi Arabia on December 30, 2013. In December, last year, Umar said the consulate had issued no fewer than 1,000 Emergency Travel Certificates to Nigerians living illegally in Saudi Arabia to enable them to return home. He said Saudi authorities had repatriated more than 1,200 Nigerians since the clampdown on illegal immigrants began in that country.
INTERNATIONAL
Pakistani Boy 15 Tackles, Dies with Suicide Bomber
Tributes have been pouring for a Pakistani teenager, who was killed on Monday when he tackled a suicide bomber targeting his school in the Hangu area. Aitzaz Hasan, 15, was with friends outside school when he spotted a man wearing a suicide vest. He got hold of the suicide bomber, who detonated his vest. There have even been calls for him to receive the army’s highest honour awarded to those who have sacrificed their life for their country, though it is unclear if he would be qualified to receive it as a civilian. There were almost 2,000 students in attendance at the time of the attack. Meanwhile, a senior police officer, known in Pakistan for campaigning against the Taliban, has been killed in a bomb blast in Karachi. Chaudhry Aslam Khan, the head of the city’s anti-terror operations, and three others died in an attack on a police convoy. The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Khan had survived previous attempts on his life.
58 UN Staff Killed by Terrorists in 2013 – Report
The UN staff union said that at least 58 of its personnel were killed by terrorists and insurgents in 2013. It said that working for the world body became more dangerous in the year. According to the figures released on Wednesday by the Staff Union’s Standing Committee for the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service, the highest number of casualties occurred in attacks targeting the UN in South Sudan, Somalia and Darfur region of Sudan The figure showed that 33 peacekeepers and 25 civilians and associated personnel were killed in 2013 while working for the organisation. The union added that the number represents an increase in the death-toll from attacks on UN staff members compared with the previous year, when 37 UN personnel were killed. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York, also said that about 30 peacekeepers were escorting a civilian convoy when they were ambushed by some 200 armed, unidentified men near the settlement of Gumuruk. It added that five civilian staff members, four of them working for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, were killed in Syria.
Afghan Police Detain Girl Wearing Suicide Vest
An eight-year-old Afghan girl wearing a suicide vest has been detained by police in southern Afghanistan. She was held on Sunday night in Helmand province, as she tried to carry out an attack against border police wearing a suicide jacket, a spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry disclosed. The girl, thought to be the sister of a prominent Taliban commander, is said to be in a state of shock and confusion and was encouraged to carry the attack by her brother. According to interior ministry spokesman, Sediq Sediqi, one of the Afghan soldiers spotted the girl wearing a suicide jacket. But she could not operate the button to detonate the suicide vest or she was arrested before she could carry the attack. The girl was transferred to the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.
34 Jihadists Killed in Syria
At least 34 foreign jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and an ally were killed after clashes with rival Syrian rebels, a watchdog said on Tuesday. The jihadists had apparently been executed after the fighting in the Jabal Zawiya district of the northwestern province of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The fighters, from ISIL and a group called Jund al-Aqsa, were killed by non-jihadist rebels over the past few days, the Observatory said. The deaths came amid fighting on several fronts pitting several coalitions of rebel fighters against jihadists from ISIL. There was renewed fighting on Tuesday in the city of Raqa, the only provincial capital outside government control and previously an ISIL stronghold, the Observatory said. The fighting centered on the provincial governor’s office, taken over by ISIL for a headquarters, and “heavy weaponry was being used.”
South Sudan Forces, Rebels Battle over Key Oil Region
South Sudanese government forces were, on Thursday, battling to retake the key rebel-held town of Bentiu, as thousands of civilians continued to flee fighting and peace talks appeared deadlocked. The fighting has been concentrated in the oil-rich Unity State in the north, and around Bor, capital of eastern Jonglei state, both main rebel strongholds. Rebel delegates at peace talks held in neighbouring Ethiopia say they will only agree to a truce if the government frees a group of alleged coup plotters detained after the fighting began more than three weeks ago. The government has ruled that out. The UN aid chief in the country, Toby Lanzer, described a scene of anarchy inside the town. Unity State is where much of fledgling oil producer South Sudan’s crude is pumped. The country’s oil production has dropped by around a fifth since the fighting began, depriving the impoverished nation of a key source of foreign currency. Thousands of people are fleeing the South Sudanese city of Bentiu amid fears of a government offensive to recapture the oil-rich area from rebels.
US Helicopter Crash Kills Four in UK
Four people were killed when a US air force helicopter crashed during a “low-level” training exercise. The aircraft came down in Cley next the Sea in north Norfolk. The helicopter is an HH-60G Pave Hawk, based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, a spokesman for the USAF confirmed. The aircraft usually carries a four-man crew on board, he said. The aircraft, assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, was on a low-level training mission when the crash occurred. Richard Kelham, chairman of Cley Parish Council, said the helicopter had crashed in the middle of Cley Marshes, a bird reserve. The helicopter came down on marshes that were badly flooded during last month’s tidal surge. The cause of the crash remains a mystery. The weather conditions are good and seem unlikely to have been a factor in what happened.
Zambia Opposition Leader Arraigned for Allegedly Defaming President
An opposition politician in Zambia has been arrested and charged with defamation after he compared the president to a potato. Frank Bwalya allegedly described President Michael Sata as “chumbu mushololwa” on radio on Monday. The Bemba language phrase refers to a sweet potato that breaks when it is bent and is used to describe someone who does not listen to advice. Mr Bwalya faces a maximum jail term of five years if he is convicted. He is a former pastor and supporter of Mr Sata. He now heads the opposition Alliance for a Better Zambia (ABZ) party. Deputy Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said Bwalya had been arrested for making defamatory remarks against Sata.
Female Jihadist Jailed 10 Years
An American-born woman, who calls herself Jihad Jane, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday, for a failed al Qaeda-linked plot to kill a Swedish artist who had depicted the head of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad on a dog. Colleen R. LaRose, 50, who converted to Islam online and has maintained her faith, was given credit for the four years she has already served. She pleaded guilty to following orders in 2009 from alleged al Qaeda operatives. LaRose, who could have received a life sentence, has given authorities significant help in other terrorism cases since her 2009 arrest, prosecutors said. LaRose, who used the name Jihad Jane as she became involved in the Muslim online community, traveled to Europe in 2009 intending to participate in a militant plot to shoot artist Lars Vilks in the chest six times. But LaRose became impatient with the men who lured her to Europe and she gave up after six weeks and returned to Philadelphia, where she was arrested. At Monday’s hearing, LaRose apologised for blindly following instructions of her handlers.
15 Die in India Building Collapse
At least 15 workers were killed and many feared trapped when a half-built apartment block collapsed in the Indian resort state of Goa, police disclosed on Sunday. The latest disaster draws attention to safety standards amid a construction boom. Senior police official, OP Mishra, said 15 workers were killed and 21 had been rescued so far. Around 50 people were working at the site at the time and at least a dozen remained trapped under the concrete, according to witness accounts. At least 50 people were killed when a five-storey apartment block in India’s financial center, Mumbai, collapsed last September. A collapse in April killed 72 people in Thane, a satellite city just outside Mumbai. Officials said the structure was built with poor materials and did not have proper approvals.
350 Police Officers Sacked in Turkey for Corruption
Turkey has sacked 350 police officers in the capital Ankara, following a corruption probe targeting people close to the government, reports say. Officials, mostly from outside the city, have been named to replace them. Hundreds of police have been dismissed or reassigned across the country since last month’s corruption investigation. Three cabinet ministers resigned after their sons were detained in the raids. The Prime Minister has accused the police and judiciary of a dirty plot. The arrests were carried out as part of an inquiry into alleged bribery involving public tenders, which included controversial building projects in Istanbul. Those detained in the 17 December raids included more than 50 public officials and businessmen – all allies of the prime minister. The latest round of police sackings and reassignments were carried out under a government decree published at midnight. Many believe the arrests and firings reflect a feud within Turkey’s ruling AK Party between those who back Mr Erdogan, and supporters of Fethullah Gulen, an influential Islamic scholar living in self-imposed exile in the US.
UN Warns of Humanitarian Disaster in CAR
The UN has warned that the Central African Republic (CAR) is heading toward a humanitarian disaster, as people fleeing conflict pack into overcrowded camps with poor sanitation. It says measles has broken out at the airport in the capital, Bangui, where about 100,000 people are seeking refuge from clashes between rival militias. The president, Michel Djotodia, resigned to allow peace reign. The president’s failure to quell violence between Christian and Muslim militias is seen as one of the reasons behind his resignation. Regional leaders, led by Chad, had run out of patience with President Djotodia, who seized power in March as the head of Muslim Seleka rebels.