Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 10

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Soldiers, Police Take over Onitsha Motor Park after Violence

Soldiers and policemen have taken over security at the disputed Aba Central Motor Park in Onitsha where two people were killed penultimate Thursday. More than 200 hoodlums said to be Ogbaru youths, armed with guns machetes and other dangerous weapons had invaded the park in a plot to take over the management of the park. They were however resisted by the mangers of the park and their sympathisers. The clash led to the death of two people and injury to many other people in several hours of violence. Lutas Collection was appointed by the Anambra State Government to manage and collect revenue for it in the park. The Chairman of Lutas Collections, Chief Okafor, expressed disappointment that after paying the government the necessary dues to manage the park he has not been allowed to recoup his money by the incessant attacks by hoodlums at the park.

Policeman Sentenced to Death for Killing 2 Civilians over N100 Bribe

A Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt, Tuesday, sentenced a police sergeant, Clement Indyel, to death by hanging after he was found guilty of killing two civilians while he was struggling with a commercial bus driver over N100 bribe. Two other police officers, Sergeant Ali Bello and Corporal Auwalu Kwale, who were involved in the ugly development, were each sentenced to life imprisonment by the Court presided over by Justice Biobele Georgewill. The deceased were shot by the police at Woke Street, Mile 4 Rumueme, Port Harcourt, after an argument ensued between the driver of a bus they were commuting in and the police, over N100 bribe. Delivering the judgment, Justice Georgewill, said the convicts conspired to murder the victims, Chinyeaka Kamalu and Ugochukwu Harcourt on January 17, 2010. The convicted policemen were charged for felony, murder and conspiracy by the state for the murder of the victims.

NDLEA Nabs Foreign Drug Traffickers at Enugu

Two foreigners with narcotic drugs were on Wednesday arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. The agency's Head of Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell said the two suspects were caught during inward and outward screening of Ethiopian airline passengers at the airport. The suspects include a 54-year-old Ghanaian comedian, Musah Iddrisu, who allegedly bought drugs for $19,000 and a 20-year-old citizen of Congo DRC, Inana Cedrick. The NDLEA Commander at the Enugu Airport, Nsikak-Abasi Udoh said that Inana Cedrick was caught with 1.500kg of heroin while Musah Iddrisu was found to have ingested 450 grammes of cocaine.

Rapists go on Rampage in Anambra

The spate of rampant rape and defilement of young girls in Anambra State is giving many parents cause for concern. There have been incessant cases of rape and defilement of young girls and minors. The first victim of these rapists was a teenager that was gang-raped to death by eight artisans in an uncompleted building in September, 2013. The second victim, a 23-year- old lady, was allegedly raped in December at gun point by a middle-aged man. The culprit, who was arrested the following day, was discovered to be a serial rapist, a cultist and kidnapper. This latest incident involving a 14-year-old girl, who was raped by vigilante operatives attached to a church at about 5.30pm on the said day. One of the three security men has been arrested by the police, while two others are on the run. Police spokesman, Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed that investigations were still in progress.

Police Rescue Kidnapped Students in Enugu

Two students of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, (ESUT) were Tuesday rescued by the police for the den of kidnappers. The students were abducted on February 17, around 7pm from their hostel. A source further disclosed that hoodlums numbering about four pointed a gun at the victims and ordered them to get into a standby taxi, from where they were taken to an unknown destination.

Fraudster Jailed 10 Years for Duping Blind Teacher

A Federal High Court, sitting in Enugu, has convicted and sentenced one Gift Onyegam to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine for duping a blind teacher, Rosemary Iheanacho, of N830, 000 on the pretext that he would help her son secure employment in an oil company. The convict, who pleaded not guilty, was also ordered to pay the sum of N711, 000 in restitution to the victim. A statement by the Head, Media & Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwajaren, on Tuesday in Abuja, said Onyegam, was arrested in 2013 following a complaint by the victim, and was prosecuted by the EFCC on four counts of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretense.

NCC Seizes N100m Equipment from Pirates

The Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) said it confiscated equipment worth over N100 million from pirates illegally tapping broadband broadcast signals of right-owners in Onitsha area. The Zonal Head of NCC in Onitsha, Emeka Ogbonna, said on Wednesday in Onitsha that the seizure covered a period of two years. Ogbonna said that 15 persons had been arraigned at the Federal High Court in Awka over the illegal act. He said that all the court cases had reached advanced stage and that the court conviction would serve as lesson and deterrent for others. The NCC head said the seizure included equipment like signal boosters, signal receivers, decoders, generating sets as well as cables used to run the signals from house to house. He said the commission would stop the illegal acts and had set up a joint intelligence unit with the right-owners to monitor Onitsha and its environs.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Police Arrest 7 Armed Robbery Suspects

The Delta State Police Command said it had arrested seven men, including a father and his two sons, for alleged armed robbery. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, said the suspects’ arrest was based on the alert to the security agents by their victim, who was robbed of N72,000 in the early hours of Saturday. Kalu also noted that the gang leader, of the same family, fled with the money stolen from the victim on sighting the police. She said the father of the armed robbery suspects, who gave accommodation to the criminals in his house, was also arrested for attacking the police officers. Kalu said the suspects had confessed to robbing seven different persons penultimate Friday. Items recovered from the suspects included one locally-made pistol with one live cartridge, one I­-Pad, six cell phones and two unregistered Toyota Sienna cars. She said Police investigations were on, while efforts were being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects and to recover other stolen items.

Uvwie Laments Army Harassment over Land

Indigenes of Uvwie in Uvwie LGA of Delta State have raised the alarm over alleged harassment by soldiers from the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun over the ownership of landed property in the area. The people therefore appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, and other relevant authorities to rescue them before the situation worsened. They claimed that soldiers from the Effurun Barracks have laid siege to at least three communities in the traditional kingdom of Uvwie, threatening to demolish houses and even destroy sacred places like graves. Former attorney-general of Delta State, Chief Victor Otomiewo, revealed that the soldiers have since February 13, laid siege to Oku-Irero, Ohorhe 1 and Ohorhe 11 communities.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Army Places Officers on High Alert in Lagos over Terrorism
• Arrests 54 suspects, recovers 14 explosives, other weapons in 7 months

To forestall any breach of security in Lagos State, especially in the light of intelligence report that some dislodged Boko Haram sect members are relocating to the South-west, the Nigerian Army have been placed on high alert in strategic areas and flash points. This is just as the Army in the last seven months has arrested about 54 members of the sect in different operations in Lagos and recovered as many as 14 explosives, AK47 rifles and various types of ammunition from the arrested suspects. The outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the NA, Major General Obi Umahi, during the change of guard to mark his handing over to his successor, Major General TI Dibi. Umahi urged his successor never to work on the assumption that elements of Boko Haram sect are not within the command's Area of Responsibility.

Slain Banker’s Husband Gets Death Sentence

A Lagos High Court has sentenced Akolade Arowolo, the 32 year old husband of slain Banker, Titilayo Arowolo, to death for the brutal murder of his wife in June 2011. The judgment which was delivered by Justice Lateefat Okunnu found the defendant guilty of the one-count charge of murder caused by multiple-stab wounds after a scuffle at their Isolo (Lagos) residence. The court held that the defendant was the only witness present at the time of the crime and reached “an eligible and indispensable conclusion using the doctrine of last seen to hold him culpable in the crime.” Relying on the testimony deposed to the court by the forensic pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, the court held that the injuries that caused the death of Arowolo’s wife were not self-inflicted as against the defendant’s claim. According to the autopsy report, 76 stab wounds were identified on various parts of the victim’s body.

Policeman Machetes Wife over Missing Money

For her inability to explain how N70,000 got missing in their home, a  policeman in Lagos, Michael Okoli has allegedly inflicted injuries on his wife with a machete. It was gathered that the victim, Felicia Okoli, is in a critical condition at the Gbagada General Hospital, while her husband who has been arrested by the police at Okokomaiko Division said he was angry after he did not find the N70000 he kept aside for house rent. Okoli said that his wife was rude to him when he asked her about the missing money and he took a sharp cutlass in anger and attacked her with it. The couple’s neighbours said it was not the first time Okoli was attacking his wife of 18 years with cutlass. He was said to have cut off one of Felicia’s fingers during one of their previous quarrels, before the latest incident.

Man Remanded for Raping Minor

An Osun State Magistrates’ Court has ordered that a 35-year-old man, Raheem Onalore be remanded in prison custody for allegedly defiling a minor. The police prosecutor, Inspector Mireti Wilson, told the court that the accused committed the offence on February 14, 2014 at Iwo, Iwo LGA of Osun State. He said the accused allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl without her consent. The accused person who agreed to stand trial in the court however pleaded not guilty to the one count-charge slammed against him.

LASU Student Killed By Suspected Cultists

Another student of the Lagos State University (LASU), simply identified as Kabiru, was penultimate Sunday night killed by suspected cultists. Kabiru was shot dead at about 10pm at the Okokomaiko area of Lagos. Weeks earlier a 400 level student of the University, Damilola Damochie, was shot dead by suspected cultists at the institution’s main gate. Sources alleged that the killing of Kabiru was a reprisal to the murder of Damochie. The Lagos State Police Spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the death of Kabiru, but did not say if he was a cult member. Braide also confirmed that more than 20 persons have been arrested over the killing of Damochie.

Man, 26, to Die By Hanging for Kidnap, Murder of Corps Member

An Ekiti State High Court, Tuesday, sentenced a 26-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Theophilus Pius, to death by hanging over his role in the murder of a youth corps member, Anthonia Okeke in 2008. The court also sentenced Pius to 10 years imprisonment for his complicity in the kidnap of Anthonia, which led to her death in the hands of ritualists. Anthonia was kidnapped in December 2008 by Pius and his gang in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti South-West LGA of Ekiti State where she was posted for her national service. Justice Adegoriola Adeleye said he found the evidence presented by the Director of Public Prosecution against Pius as having probative value and reliable enough to convince him that the accused was guilty of the crime. Adeleye ruled that Pius should die by hanging, having found him guilty of murder just as he sentenced him to 10 years jail term for his complicity in the kidnap of the late corps member.

Trader Stabs Brother-in-law to Death

The Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court has ordered the remand of a 29-year-old woman, Obiageri Oriuwa, for allegedly stabbing her brother-in-law, Ikechukwu Oriuwa, 37, to death with a kitchen knife. The magistrate, Ms Y.J Badejo-Okusanya, said the defendant should be kept in prison pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution. The late Ikechukwu, who was a medical practitioner, was said to have started a quarrel with Obiageri for her carelessness and for almost setting the house on fire after she tried to put on a power generating set, which caught fire. This led to a scuffle. The police told the court that Obiageri in fit of anger dashed to the kitchen and brought out a knife with which she stabbed the deceased in the hand. He reportedly bled to death. The defendant was subsequently arrested and arraigned on one count of murder.

Gunmen Seize EFCC Suspect Court

A suspect of the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC), Princewill Nwobodo, alias Aboki J. Brown, was on Thursday abducted by unknown gunmen at a Lagos High Court. The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said that the suspect, Nwobodo, was abducted by four gunmen at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere. He said the suspect was brought to court from Ikoyi Prisons and was abducted by the gunmen from the Prison warders who took him to court. Uwujaren said that the abducted suspect was arraigned before Justice Aishat Opesanwo, on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining $92,000 under false pretense in a case being handled by the EFCC.

NSCDC Seizes Smuggled Crude Oil

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Lagos State Command, last weekend, intercepted 15,300 litres of petroleum products, which was allegedly being planned to be smuggled to neighbouring countries. The Lagos State Command, Clement Adesuyi, said that his men intercepted the smugglers on the high sea in Badagry after they received intelligence reports. The suspects, who were coming from Escravos, Apapa, jumped into the sea to evade arrest. We recovered 45 drums of 300 litres each and 72 jerry cans of 25 litres each, one Yamaha boat engine. He stated that his men remained on the lookout for the suspects. Adesuyi added that the NSCDC faced a major challenge in apprehending suspects on the high seas due to the unavailability of speed boat engines. The products were said to have been moved to the NSCDC command headquarters, pending their transfer to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Suspected Cultists Stab 23-Year-Old to Death

Suspected cult members have attacked and killed a 23-year-old man, Segun Olukoga, a DSTV engineer in the Mushin area of Lagos. It was learnt that the victim was trailed by the gang members to Amu Street around 11am on Thursday. He was first hit with a sledge hammer before being stabbed several times with a dagger. The matter was said to have been reported at the Olosan Police Division, Mushin. Sources within the area identified the man who led the attack on Olukoga as one Adebayo, aka Oyinbo, a notorious gang leader in Mushin. He was said to be on the run and had been declared wanted by the police for the murder of at least seven other people.

Traders, Youths Clash in Lagos Market

There was a commotion on Saturday at the Yisa Street section of the Agege Market as traders in the market had a confrontation with some youths in the area. The traders, who arrived on Saturday morning to find their stalls either burnt or missing, accused the youths of vandalising their property. This led to a violent confrontation that lasted for over one hour. The traders later invited the Police, who subsequently arrested about 10 youths alleged to have carried out the operation. They accused them of having participated in the vandalism and threatened to resort to violence if the youths continued to harass them. It was gathered that the disagreement between traders and youths in the area began in 2009 when the traders moved into the street after they were evicted from the nearby railway line by the State Government.

Mother Accuses Police of Killing Banker Son in Custody

Mother of the late Ecobank worker, Babatunde Oke, has insisted that the police knew how her son died. Babatunde died under controversial circumstances while in custody of the Falomo Police Division, Lagos State, over allegation of N1.2m fraud. The man was detained for three days by the police over his alleged involvement in the fraud. The bereaved mother, Alhaja Sidikatu Oke, disclosed that 35-year-old Babatunde died within 20 minutes she left him to get money to perfect his bail. She said he did not show any sign of weakness and had only complained of mosquito bites for the period he was with the police.

Police Arrest 12, Declare Four Others Wanted in Ejigbo Torture Probe

The police have arrested 12 suspects in connection with the torture of three women at Oba Morufu International Market in Ejigbo, Lagos. Two of the victims, who were young girls, were arrested along with their mother, tortured and dehumanised by persons who claimed to be members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) providing security at the market, and some market association officials that extorted the sum of N50000 from the father of the victims in return for their freedom. One of the victims, a national of the Republic of Benin, was moved back to Cotonou by her father where she later died from the injuries she allegedly sustained from the torture. The suspects, according to the Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, include: Isiaka Waidi, said to be the mastermind of the dastardly act; Haruna Abdullahi and Buhari Yusuf, who allegedly mixed the concoction of pepper and alcoholic spirit that were applied on the bodies, including the genitals of the victims.

Ondo House Speaker Dies of Cancer

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Samuel Ajayi Adesina is dead. Adesina, who was representing the Odigbo II Constituency in the Assembly died Tuesday during a protracted battle with cancer of urinary bladder. The death of the late speaker was confirmed by the state government in a statement by signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola. According to the SSG, the late speaker during his life time was a bridge builder, a man of integrity and a reliable team player who placed the interest of the state above personal consideration. He said the government received the news of the speaker's death with rude shock and disbelief.

GENERAL

Boko Haram Kills 43 FGC Students in Yobe

The outlawed Boko Haram sect, on Monday night, attacked Yobe State killing 43 secondary school students in a Federal Government College. Though a teacher in the school said that 29 students were killed during the siege in their hostel, hospital sources revealed that 43 corpses were deposited at the morgue. Eleven students were also injured in the attack which started at about 11.30 pm and lasted till 4am. Houses, hostels, classrooms and staff quarters in the school were burnt.  The governor called on the military to change the tactics deployed to fight the insurgents in order to restore sanity. The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Rufai, confirmed that 29 students were killed in the siege.

FG Warns Military against Human Rights Abuse

The Federal Government has warned members of the armed forces that it will not spare any officer found culpable in human rights violation in the course of their internal security operations. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) gave this warning on Monday during the ‘International Seminar on the Imperatives of the Observance of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Norms in Internal Security Operations’, which was jointly organised by his office and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) at National Defence College (NDC), Abuja. Adoke stated that the rationale for the seminar was to ensure that the concerted efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges do not only conform to law, but are also in tandem with acceptable international standards.

400 Nigerians Trapped in Cameroun over CAR Crisis

Over 400 Nigerian are reported trapped in Cameroun due to the lingering crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR). The United Nations High Commission for Refugees had earlier said over 9,000 people, including Nigerians, had fled to Cameroun to escape violence in the country. The victims have called on the Nigerian government to come to their rescue and take them back home. According to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), almost 840,000 people have been displaced inside CAR, with no immediate prospect for their return. A statement issued by the UNHCR spokesperson, Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba, in Geneva said 8,762 people of various nationalities had crossed into the town of Kentzou in eastern Cameroun. The UN agency has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis as the rainy season begins, as there is a high risk of cholera and other public health issues.

Nearly 300,000 Displaced by Boko Haram

Besides the huge human casualties visited on the people of the North-east by the unbridled violence of the Boko Haram, lies the anguish of even the living, many of whom have been displaced from their hearth and home. Reports indicate that about 300,000 people, more than half of them children, have fled their homes in the North-east since May last year because of violence linked to the Boko Haram scourge, the United Nations said Thursday. Three states in the region: Yobe, Borno and Adamawa, have been under emergency rule since last May 14, when the military launched a massive offensive to stamp out the insurgency, which has killed thousands since 2009. The UN’s humanitarian office (OCHA) said a total of 290,002 people have been internally displaced in the three states under emergency rule as of January 1, 2014.

Nigerian Military Steps up Counter-Terror Campaign

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, disclosed that the military had intensified its counter-terrorism campaign and had adopted new strategies to crush the Boko Haram insurgents. The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, explained that the intensified offensive had led to the dislodging of the sect, who unfortunately in the course of their flight to the border towns to Cameroun inflicted more misery on the people. He also revealed that the military was able to kill at least six members of the fleeing Boko Haram members, with nine others captured. The Defence spokesman further disclosed that the troops are closing in on some of the insurgents who were suspected to have carried out the massacre at the Federal Government College (FGC), Buni Yadi, Yobe State. Olukolade advised citizens in the affected states, particularly towards the border areas, to assist the security forces by reporting any movement of the group if noticed in their locality.

Boko Haram Kills 37 in Adamawa

Boko Haram terrorists, on Wednesday, nearly sacked four communities in Adamawa state. Banks, shops, government and business outlets, and houses were reported to have been looted and burnt during the six hour simultaneous raids on the three communities – Michika, Gulak, Shuwa and Krichinga – by the militants. It was gathered that when the soldiers at the military checkpoints saw the number of the attackers, they retreated into the nearby bushes as the gunmen operated without challenge during the operation that lasted throughout the night,” witnesses said. It was also gathered that among the over 20 persons killed in Shuwa, was a priest at St. Augustine Catholic Church. In Michika, Michika LGA, another group of Boko Haram gunmen burnt three banks, a police station, part of the Michika LGA secretariat and shops. State governor, Murtala Nyako, suggested there must be collusion with the Boko Haram terrorist network.

31 Feared Killed in Plateau Attacks

Over 31 persons were killed in separate attacks at Rakong village, a border between Barkin Ladi and Bokkos LGAs and Diyam-Rim in Riyom LGA of Plateau State. Although the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Olakpe, confirmed the attack he was silent on casualty figures. According to him, the quick intervention of the Nigeria Police, STF, SSS and Civil Defence brought the situation under control. While the interim administrator of Barkin Ladi LG Council, Habila Dung, confirmed said ten people were killed in the attack while over 120 houses were burnt, Mike Lipdo, coordinator of Stephanos Foundation, a Jos-based non-governmental organisation, insisted that he saw 29 people killed in the attack in two villages. Similarly, gunmen killed two persons when they attacked Diyam-Rim of Riyom LGA.

Police Assure Benue of Adequate Protection

The Deputy Inspector General of Police Operation, Michael Zuokumor, has assured residents of Makurdi and other towns in Benue State of efforts by the state police command to return peace and normalcy to areas were Fulani herdsmen and farming communities have engaged each other in fighting. He however called on both parties to embrace peace and dialogue to the resolve crises. Zuokumor, made the call while reacting to an overnight attack by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on communities in Adeke, Guma and Gwer West LGAs, which so far has led to the dead of over 40 people. He disclosed that the force had mobilised and chased out the bandits causing trouble in the areas.

Rise in Rape Cases Worries Female Journalists

The National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has expressed concern over the rising cases of rape involving minors in the northern part of the country. The National Vice-President of the association in charge of North-west zone, Hajia Zainab Ringim, who raised the alarm, urged law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough investigation into the incidents in order to bring the culprits to book. Ringim said this in Kano during the Triennial Zonal meeting, expressing worried that the cases of rape had seriously affected mostly the girl-child between the age of three and above. The association’s leader explained that it was partly agreed that the problems arise from the lackadaisical attitude of the parents and government in creating an avenue that will give adequate security to children.

IPMAN Blames Port Security for Fuel Scarcity

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Wednesday stated that the ongoing scarcity of petrol experienced across the country was as a result of delayed clearance of ships laden with fuel on the high sea by Nigeria’s security operatives. IPMAN explained that the lingering fuel scarcity in the country might continue until when the security operatives improve on their clearance processes of ships. The President of IPMAN, Abdulkadir Aminu, debunked claims that marketers are the cause of the scarcity. According to him, the NNPC has made frantic efforts to ensure that all the tank farms are open for products discharge but the biggest challenge is the ship to ship transfer on the high sea and they have to be cleared before that exercise would be conducted.

NCC Sanctions Telecom Operators for Poor Service Quality

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has sanctioned three major network operators in the country – MTN Nigeria, Globacom and Airtel – the sum of N647.5 million for breach of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and poor quality of service for the month of January 2014. The NCC disclosed that after collating statistics from the network operating centres of the operators, it discovered that the services provided by MTN, Airtel and Globacom fell below the KPI published in 2013. Globacom was penalised, N277.5 million for three breaches, while MTN and Airtel got sanctioned N185 million each for two breaches. The NCC had set four critical KPIs – Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR), Drop Call Rate (DCR), Traffic Channel Congestion (TCHCONG) and Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel Congestion (SDCONG).

Boko Haram Attacks Borno Village Again

Suspected members of terrorist sect, Boko Haram, again attacked Izge, a village in Gwoza LGA of Borno State, killing three persons. The militants had earlier attacked the village on February 15 during which they killed over 100 people. The attack came hours before the presidency denied a report that it was planning to impose a military regime on Borno State. It was learnt that gunmen returned to Izge, which is gradually coming back to life as residents started returning to the village after last week's attack, torching homes, shooting and setting off explosives. The attack forced the returned residents to flee again. District head Bulama Agapu said he went back to Izge to persuade some elderly people to leave when the militants attacked Sunday.

FG Ordered to Pay Boko Haram Suspects N10m for Rights Violation

An Abuja High Court has ordered the federal government to pay the sum of N10 million as compensation to nine suspected members of the outlawed Islamic sect, Boko Haram for detaining them illegally. The court also ordered that the applicants should be released from detention and should not be rearrested or detained on the same facts. Justice Peter Affen, in his judgment, found merit in an application for an order of the enforcement of fundamental rights of the nine applicants. The judge declared that the detention and torture of the applicants in Abuja, since May 2012 by agents of the federal government without bringing them to court for arraignment was unlawful, unconstitutional and a violation of the applicants’ fundamental right to dignity of human person and personal liberty.

Terrorism: Nigerian Borders with Cameroon Closed Down

The borders between Nigeria and Cameroon in Adamawa state have been totally shut down as part of government efforts to halt the influx of miscreants into the country and to surmount the activities of insurgents in the North-eastern part of the country. The commander of the 23rd Armour Brigade of the Nigerian Army Yola, Brigadier General Rogers Iben Nicholas, who confirmed the closure of the borders, added that the decision to shut the Adamawa side of the border with Cameroon was imperative to stop illegal movement in and out of the country.

Tension Mount in Jos over Killing of Nine Hunters

There was palpable tension in Dadin Kowa and Gyel areas of Jos South LGA of Plateau State during the week, following the alleged killing of nine hunters at Gero village near Jos. It was gathered that some youths who had gone hunting on Sunday night were killed by unknown gunmen at Gero village and the corpses of three of them were recovered from the forest. As soon as the news of their death broke, youths from Dadin Kowa took to the street in protest. An eyewitness, Mark Lipdo, said the youths went on rampage and blocked the major road leading to Bukuru, claiming that nine hunters were killed. When contacted, the state Police Commissioner, Chris Olakpe, confirmed the incidence but said only one corpse was found.

INTERNATIONAL

Ukrainian Lawmakers Oust Yanukovych

Ukrainian members of parliament, last week, voted to oust President Viktor Yanukovych and hold early presidential elections on May 25. The vote came after police stopped guarding presidential buildings, allowing protesters to walk in freely. Yanukovych described the vote as a "coup" and vowed not to stand down. The opposition is now in effective control of the capital Kiev. The protests first erupted in late November when President Yanukovych rejected a landmark association and trade deal with the EU in favour of closer ties with Russia. Meanwhile, prominent opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, was released from detention, hours after MPs authorised the move. MPs had voted to pave the way for her release last Friday. She was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2011 after being convicted of abuse of power over her actions during her tenure as prime minister. Yanukovich, ousted after bloody street protests in which demonstrators were shot by police snipers, is wanted on an arrest warrant for mass murder, authorities announced.

Ethiopian Woman Convicted in Sudan after Being Gang-Raped

An Ethiopian woman who says she was gang-raped in Sudan has been convicted of “indecent acts”. The woman of 18 was three months’ pregnant at the time of the alleged attack. She was arrested after video of her allegedly being sexually abused was circulated on social media. Three men who admitted having sex with the woman and two who distributed the video were reportedly sentenced to being whipped. The three were each sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery, while two got 40 lashes for distributing indecent material. The woman was sentenced to a one-month jail term but this was suspended because she is pregnant, her lawyer, Samia al-Hashmi, disclosed. She was also fined 5,000 Sudanese pounds ($880; £530). She had also faced charges of adultery and prostitution, which could have led to a penalty of death by stoning, but these were dropped as she was divorced. The woman was house-hunting when she was lured to an empty property and attacked. The group’s regional director Hala Elkarib condemned the conviction, saying it would prevent women from reporting sexual abuse.

Nine Killed in Afghan Suicide Attack

A suicide bomb attack on a hotel in the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan has killed nine people, officials say. At least 37 people were injured in the blast. All the casualties are believed to be Afghan nationals. The police chief of Uruzgan province disclosed that the explosion took place on Tuesday evening in Tirin Kot. He warned that several people were seriously hurt and that the number of people killed could go up. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, although the Taliban will be the main suspects.

30 Suspected Militants Killed in Airstrikes

The Pakistani military on Tuesday continued its campaign of airstrikes against alleged militant hideouts in the country’s northwest. This comes a week after the peace talks with the Taliban broke down. The series of recent bombing raids in a region considered a stronghold for extremist groups has killed scores of people. About 30 terrorists were killed in early morning airstrikes on militants’ hideouts, the military said on Tuesday. The strikes were carried out in the Shawal Valley, which lies between North and South Waziristan, loosely governed tribal areas that border Afghanistan. They also targeted the village of Ghariom in North Waziristan, the military said. The strikes demolished some hideouts, military officials said. More airstrikes took place in the northwest over the weekend, targeting militants in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and the tribal areas. The military said the weekend strikes killed 38 people.

Morsi Accused of Leaking State Secrets

Egyptian state prosecutors have accused ousted President Mohamed Morsi of leaking state secrets in a plot to destabilise Egypt. At the second hearing of his trial for espionage last Sunday, Morsi, along with 35 others including leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood was accused of conspiring with foreign powers, Palestinian group Hamas and Iran. The toppled president and the other suspects were said to have divulged “national defense secrets and providing Iranian Revolutionary Guards with security reports in order to destabilise the security and stability of the country.” Prosecutors said Morsi and the defendants carried out espionage activities on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas with an aim to “perpetrate terror attacks in the country in order to spread chaos and topple the state” from 2005 to August 2013. Defendants including the Brotherhood’s supreme guide, Mohamed Badie, his deputy Khairat al-Shater and other Islamist leaders rejected the accusations against them.

20 Afghan Soldiers Die in Taliban Attack

Taliban fighters have killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint in Kunar province close to Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan.  At least one of the attackers was also killed, while the Taliban claimed the capture of seven soldiers. The violence comes ahead of presidential elections that are due to be held in March. Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi said “hundreds” of insurgents had been involved in the attack, which took place in the remote Ghazi Abad district of eastern Kunar province early on Sunday. Heavy fighting is said to have continued for several hours. Kunar Governor, Shuja Ul Mulk, said that suspected Taliban infiltrators in the army had helped organise the attack.

Pakistani Taliban Commander Dies in Ambush

A senior Pakistani Taliban commander has been shot dead in a militant stronghold near the Afghan border, security sources and relatives said. Asmatullah Shaheen was ambushed as he drove through a village near Miranshah in North Waziristan. Three aides in the vehicle also died. It is unclear who killed them. Shaheen was briefly the TTP (Pakistani Taliban) interim leader after its chief Hakimullah Mehsud was killed last year. Mehsud died in a US drone strike in November and was later replaced by a new leader, Mullah Fazlullah. There have been a series of attacks in which unidentified gunmen have targeted militants in the tribal areas. The attacks have taken place against a backdrop of continuing militant violence across Pakistan and a limited military operation against Taliban strongholds, despite attempts between the two sides to hold peace talks. Shaheen, who is believed to have supported peace talks, is the most senior militant to die since Hakimullah Mehsud was killed.

Indian Soldier Kills Five Colleagues, Self

An Indian soldier has shot dead five of his colleagues before killing himself in Indian-administered Kashmir, military officials say. The incident took place on Wednesday night at a military camp about 20km (12 miles) north of the city of Srinagar. An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the incident, officials said. Kashmir is divided into Indian and Pakistan-administered sides, but both sides claim the region in full. Both station troops there and there are periodic incidents, although a ceasefire along the line of control, which divides the region, was agreed in November 2003. Thousands of people have been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir since an armed revolt against Indian rule erupted in 1989. The shooting took place inside a camp for the Rashtriya Rifles paramilitary force in Ganderbal district.

Ukraine Warns Russia against Aggression
…As Armed Men Seize Airports in Ukraine's Crimea

Ukrainian interim President, Olexander Turchynov, has warned Russia against any “military aggression” in Crimea. He said Russia’s troops from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet should not move outside their naval base in Sebastopol. The warning comes after armed men seized Crimea’s regional parliament and the government headquarters of the Russian-majority region. The Russian flag had been raised over both buildings in Simferopol. It is not clear who the men are. Turchynov’s warning came as Russia performed a second day of military exercises, saying its fighter jets were on “combat alert”. On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin ordered a snap drill to test the combat readiness of troops in central and western Russia, near the border with Ukraine. Amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West, NATO has issued a statement saying it would continue to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The US has warned against any military intervention by Russia.

Police Rescue Babies from China Traffickers

China has smashed four child-trafficking rings and arrested more than a thousand people for using websites and instant messaging groups to trade babies, authorities said Friday. In February, Police from 27 provinces across China rescued 382 babies and arrested 1,094 people suspected of buying and selling infants online, China’s Ministry of Public Security disclosed. The sting was part of a six-month operation launched after police in Beijing and Jiangsu in eastern China received reports of a website promoting private adoptions. Further investigations uncovered a virtual black market — involving four websites, online forums and some 30 groups on a popular Chinese messaging platform — that connected traffickers with potential buyers.

Israel Police Kill US Kill Suspect in prison

Israeli Special Forces have shot dead an American-Israeli prisoner, who was jailed for a brutal murder in the United States after he opened fire on prison guards. A police spokesman said Samuel Sheinbein had shot three security officers, critically injuring one, and barricaded himself in the compound. Sheinbein was serving a 24-year sentence for a 1997 murder in Maryland. He fled to Israel shortly after the killing. It is not clear how Sheinbein got hold of the weapon. In 1999, a court in Tel Aviv found Sheinbein, who was then aged 19, guilty of killing and dismembering Alfredo Enrique Tello in the US state of Maryland two years earlier. Sheinbein had fled to Israel shortly after the body was found. He had never lived in Israel but claimed citizenship because his father had been born in 1944 in what was then British-ruled Palestine. Israel’s refusal to extradite the teenager to the US – where he would have faced a harsher penalty – outraged US authorities.

Bodies of Five Illegal Miners Recovered in South Africa

South African emergency workers on Wednesday said they had discovered the bodies of five illegal miners outside an abandoned gold mine, a week after the high-profile rescue of two dozen other illegal miners, Emergency Management Services spokesman Robert Mulaudzi, said. Police found the bodies of four men and a woman on Tuesday night. The bodies showed no injuries, but authorities detected lethal carbon monoxide levels in the area over the weekend, when another illegal miner was found dead. Much of the area around Johannesburg is pockmarked with old shafts, a testament to the city's century-old history of gold mining. The latest fatalities follow last week's rescue of two dozen illegal miners who were trapped in an abandoned gold mine east of the city. Rescuers found two dead miners near that mine at the time.