Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 34

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Task Force Uncovers Den of Kidnappers, Recovers Arms, Ammunition

Following intelligence report of the activities of kidnappers, the Joint Task Force (JTF) stormed a camp at Meibegbemo located at Zobia of Faropo community of southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa, while recovering arms and ammunition before setting it ablaze. The JTF in a statement signed by its spokesman, Lt.Col Mustapha Anka, said that during a shootout, the "miscreants escaped to the creeks with several gunshot wounds sustained during the exchange of fire”. He said no arrest was made but catches of arms and ammunition were recovered. Anka disclosed that other items recovered from the hoodlums included six fiber boats with 75hp bow out engine mounted on them and seven    pieces 65hp engine, 12 pieces of mattress, two generating sets, four smoke grenade and five cell phones with 15 Sim cards belonging to different communication companies.

Security Guard Rapes 9-Year-Old to Death in Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old security guard, identified as Gideon Musa, for raping a nine-year-old girl to death. The suspect, who is a guard near the victim’s house, took the child to a nearby bush and raped her to death. Father of the deceased, Edwin Ode Ominiyi, was said to have reported the disappearance of his daughter to the police. Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, said that the policemen quickly swung into action, searching for the girl, along with her father. During the search, the suspect pretended to be assisting until the policemen were informed that he was the last to be seen with the victim. Following this revelation, he was invited and questioned by the police. He then confessed that he took the victim to a nearby bush where he had carnal knowledge of her until she became unconscious and fainted. He further took the police to where he had left her. There they found her lifeless body.

APC, PDP Clash in Rivers, Several Injured
…Father shoots son for not joining opposition party

The planned tour by the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, of Rumuepirikom community in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state, was on Wednesday, aborted as supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed at the Wimpey Junction, Ikwerre Road, section of the community, no fewer than eight people were reportedly wounded. A former traditional ruler in the community, Chief Anthony Owabie, was also alleged to have shot his son, Clement, for refusing to join the APC. The sporadic shooting from the palace of the traditional ruler caused pandemonium with the people around scampering for safety. Irate youths that attempted to storm Owabie’s residence were prevailed upon by a reinforcement of policemen that arrived at the scene to prevent the youths from attacking Owabie and destroying property. The Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin, who confirmed the incident, affirmed that Owabie shot his son and six people. He said that the Chief was arrested along with four others whose identities are yet to be confirmed.

6 Paraded for Kidnapping in Ebonyi

Six persons suspected to be kidnappers were, weekend, paraded by the Department of State Services (DSS), Ebonyi State Command. The suspected kidnappers were those who allegedly abducted and killed former Coordinator of Okposi Development Centre in Ohaozara LGA, Ihebunandu Okorie, in March. The state Director of DSS, L.B. Baba, while parading the suspects, said they abducted the council boss on March 16, 2014 at the Presbyterian Church, Okposi and later killed him at Nguzu Edda forest. He gave the names of the suspects as Ebere, 32; Odichimma, 30; Chukwudi, 32; Amos, 23; Peter, 30 and Adamu, saying some of the suspects also engaged in drug peddling, taking cocaine from Brazil to some other West African countries. Items recovered from the gang include three AK-47 rifles, 16 magazines, Honda IV Tech car with number plate, LAGOS FST 254 AE and ash colour Toyota Picnic with number plate LAGOS JJJ 777 PU used by the gang as mobile armoury.

Navy Hands over Suspected Oil Thieves to EFCC

The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has handed over 20 suspected crude oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The handing over of the suspects took place on Wednesday at the command’s Forward Operating Base, Formoso, Brass, Bayelsa State. Commanding Officer, FOB Formoso, Captain Noel Madugu, said the suspects were arrested at Sangana river in Brass LGA of the state. He said the suspects comprising 18 Nigerians, one Camerounian and one Ghanaian were on board the vessel MV ELMINA. He said during the time of arrest, the captain of the ship could not provide the relevant documents to lift crude oil. Madugu also said the suspects declared they were loading Automated Gas Oil (diesel), but when the products were tested, it was discovered to be crude oil. Madugu said the ship was however boarded and discovered that she was loaded with crude oil. He said as of the time of interception, the ship had not been sounded to verify the exact amount of cargoes.

Security Operatives Raid Kidnappers Den in Bayelsa

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, on Thursday, said its troops swooped on hideouts used by suspected kidnappers in Bayelsa coastal communities. According to the Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt. Col Mustapha Anka, the operation follows rising insecurity in waterways in the state. Anka stated that the troops flushed out and dislodged the kidnappers, who engaged the troops in a shootout from their hideouts with bullet wounds. Anka explained that the operation by Operation Pulo Shield’s anti-illegal bunkering squad was led by Commanding Officer OF 5 Battalion, Lt. Col. Shu’aibu Nuhu, in collaboration with the Air Component of the task force. Anka said that the operation had since restored peace and normalcy to the creeks.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Notorious Robbery Suspect Nabbed in Delta

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a notorious armed robber and recovered arms and ammunition from him. The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, stated that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the GRA Police Station in Asaba, Uzochukwu Ugwuanyi and his patrol men, acted on a tip off to nab the alleged armed robber, Tochukwu Bright, who has been on the Police wanted list. According to the release, items recovered from him include one bag and a German made revolver pistol with nine rounds of 9mm live ammunition. The suspect had on June 26, 2014 at about 8:00am allegedly shot one Chinelo Okonkwo, of Infant Jesus area, Asaba and robbed her of her Honda car.

Kidnap Victim Rescued, Suspects Arrested in Delta State

The Delta Police Command Asaba on Tuesday rescued Mrs. Roseline Okolie, a kidnap victim and arrested one of the kidnappers. Okolie was said to have been kidnapped at her Obiaruku residence in Ukwuani Council Area of Delta State. Police spokeswoman, Celestina Kalu, disclosed that on August 12, the victim’s husband, Emmanuel Okolie, had reported to the police that three armed men broke into his residence, robbed him of cash and valuables and took away his wife, Roseline. Operatives quickly went after the hoodlums along Obiaruku/Utagba Uno road where they ran into their hideout. The kidnappers on sighting the operatives engaged them in a gun duel. Consequently, one of the suspects identified as Collins Onyemaro, 35, was arrested while the remaining two escaped with bullet wounds. The victim was rescued unhurt. Meanwhile, investigation is in progress while efforts are on to track down the fleeing miscreants. Kalu said that its Command has also apprehended a car snatching gang and recovered a vehicle.

19-Year-Old Arrested for Sleeping with Dog

The Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police on Tuesday arrested a 19-year-old boy in Iguosa community, Ovia North East LGA of Edo State, for allegedly having sex with a dog. The young man, simply identified as Osagiator, was said to have taken the dog to an uncompleted building where he mated with it. A resident in the community, George Ogbonmwan, while narrating how the teenager was caught, said that he had seen the boy “romancing” the dog and thought he wanted to steal it. So, he decided to call the attention of the owner. Ogbonmwan said that he was, however, surprised to see the suspect having sexual intercourse with the dog in an uncompleted building, when he arrived with the owner at the building. The suspect explained that he did not know what came over him to have intercourse. The owner of the dog, Garuba Samari, who quickly disowned his pet, insisted that the boy should be handed over to the security agency, to decide what to do with him.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

20 Suspects Arraigned over Arepo Killings

The police have arraigned 20 suspects, including a 54-year-old woman, Susan Viana, in connection with the Arepo oil pipeline vandalism and the killing of nine policemen, which happened in May this year. The suspects, some of whom were said to have been arrested on May, 29 by men of the Joint Task Force in Ondo State, were on Thursday arraigned before Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Lagos. The police alleged that the 20 suspects were the masterminds behind the oil bunkering incident at Arepo, near Ikorodu, Lagos State. Some heavily armed suspected vandals had, in May, stormed the Arepo area in about 14 speed-boats to carry out an illegal oil bunkering deal. According to reports, during the illegal operation, the criminals were confronted by some policemen attached to the Inspector-General of Police, Anti-Pipeline Task Force, who engaged them in a gun duel, resulting in an explosion of a pipeline and the killing of nine policemen.

Robbery Suspect Nabbed with ACP Uniform

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 46-year-old man who impersonates an Assistant Commissioner of Police. He was arrested in connection with the recovery of two stolen cars found in his possession. The suspect, Alexander Abiodun, was arrested in Ijoko area of Ogun State following a confessional statement of an arrested robbery suspect. The robbery suspect identified as Gabriel Asaolu, who was discovered to be a pastor in Ogun State, was alleged to have stolen exotic cars from Ogun and Lagos states. During interrogation, Asaolu reportedly mentioned Abiodun as one of the receivers, which made the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, to direct police operatives to go after him. Police sources said when the operatives stormed Abiodun’s home, one of the stolen cars, a Toyota Avalon, was recovered. Also recovered in his apartment were Police uniforms with the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police. Abiodun said that he only used the police uniform to smuggle cars from Benin Republic.

77-Year-Old Ghanaian Arraigned for N8m Fraud in Ogun State

The police in Ogun state have arraigned a 77-year-old Ghanaian, Kishore Khubchadani, for allegedly defrauding his business partner, Fakayode Gbadebo, of N8m. The police said the defendant collected 50,000 litres of diesel valued N8m from the complainant in March, 2014 and promised to pay back the following day. He was however said to have issued three different Diamond Bank cheques in April and May, valued N8m, which bounced when presented at the bank. Efforts to get the money repaid were said to have proved abortive. Khubchadani was subsequently arrested and arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on four counts of fraud and issuance of dud cheques. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges and elected summary trial.

Hoodlums Kill Man in Supremacy Battle

Some hoodlums on Wednesday engaged in a supremacy battle on Sadiku Road, Ilasamaja, Lagos State, leaving a 29-year-old electrical engineer, Biodun Fadipe, who was eating lunch, dead. It was learnt that the hoodlums unleashed terror on one another from about 4pm and held residents and visitors to the area hostage for two hours. They were said to have been armed with guns, cutlasses and other weapons. It was also gathered that shop owners and other traders on the street abandoned their wares while the mayhem lasted. It was gathered that the deceased, who was a father of three children, was attacked by the hoodlums in front of his workshop on Tanimowo Street, off Sadiku, where they hacked him to death.

Police Arrest Robbers, Rapist in Oyo State

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested four robbers who dispossessed a clergy of two cars and raped his daughter. Commissioner of Police in the state, Sam Okaula, said the clergy reported the robbery at the Sanyo Police Division on July 21, a day after the incident. Okaula said, “The pastor reported that around 11.45pm, four armed robbers jumped into his compound and ordered him to open the door which he did at gun point. They ordered those in the house to lie down while they gathered valuable items. The commissioner said investigation by the police led to the arrest of four others. The Police also paraded a suspected five-member gang of inter-state robbers, who were said to have been caught after robbing a man of his car. The suspects were however caught in Kwara State after an alert was issued to all state commands on the activities of the suspects. Two locally-made double barrel guns, three locally-made single barrel guns, two rounds of live cartridges, one motorcycle with number plate N466 QA, two Ipads, 14 assorted mobile telephones and two power generating sets, were found in the gang’s possession.

Two Children Die in Lagos House Fire

Tragedy struck on Monday evening as two kids, Kosiso Chukwu and Munachi Henry, both two years of age, were burnt to death in a fire that gutted an apartment in the Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos. Their six-month-old sister was, however, rescued by a nine-year-old girl, Perpetual. It was learnt that Perpetual and Munachi were on a holiday visit to the Chukwus when the incident happened. It was learnt from residents that the fire started after the mother of the house, identified simply as Mrs. Chukwu, lit a candle in the room and left the house. She was said to have also padlocked the burglar-proof gate before leaving the house. She said the smoke emanating from the inner room woke up Perpetual, who quickly picked up the baby beside her. She was said to have struggled to push out the six-month-old through the iron bars, before wriggling out too.

NDLEA Nabs Suspect with Conceals N322m Drugs in Oil Filters

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has prevented a suspected drug syndicate from smuggling N322 million worth of drugs concealed inside oil filters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The illicit consignment containing substances that tested positive for methamphetamine were meant for export to Mozambique. An auto parts dealer has been apprehended in connection with the seizure. NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Hamza Umar, said the drugs were cleverly hidden inside oil filters, in a manner that makes it difficult to detect. We had to cut the filters open in order to recover the drug. Hamza added that an auto parts dealer in Lagos by name Agbala Eze Cosmos, 38 years old has been arrested and currently assisting in further investigation activities.

Man Kills Friend over Bicycle, Remanded in Prison

A 30-year-old farmer, Haruna Mohammed, in Kwara State, who allegedly killed his friend over a bicycle has been charged to court for culpable homicide. The trial Magistrate ordered the accused to be remanded at the Federal Prisons in Ilorin, having appeared before it on a one-count charge of culpable homicide. The accused was alleged to have on June 26, 2014 hacked his friend to death in order to inherit his bicycle and his farm. The policemen at Kaiama divisional headquarters arrested the accused following a complaint by one Sadiq Tori Musa of Woro village that while he was in his house, one Ibrahim Zaki told him the 52-year-old deceased, Abubakar Dankanu was found dead in his hut. According to the complainant, when he got to the deceased’s house, he discovered deep cuts all over his head. The long arm of the law caught up with the accused when a team of police and vigilante arrested him with the deceased’s bicycle.

Police Find Corpse of Missing Twins’ Father in Canal

The Ekiti State Police Command said it has found the corpse of a middle aged man simply identified as Kola, who is the father of twins said to be missing, after a manhunt was put together for him. Tragedy struck at 23, Temidire Street, Ajowa, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Saturday when Kola’s wife, Titilayo, a mother of four who delivered a set of twins the previous night was found dead in her one-room apartment. Kola, who was with his wife throughout the night, just disappeared with the set of twins after ostensibly killing their mother. This development made their neighbours to raise an alarm, while the police subsequently swung into action and pledged to get to the root of the matter. Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Babayemi, disclosed that Kola’s corpse was dumped by unknown persons in a canal at Oke Ila area of Ado-Ekiti. The police are yet to trace the whereabouts of the missing set of twins. Babayemi, however, assured that no stone would be left unturned to get to the root of the matter

Police Arrest Suspected Cultists over Student’s Death

The Ogun State Police Command said that it had arrested a suspected cultist, Ologunlagba Timilehin, 21, and three others over the killing of a student of the Gateway Polytechnic Igbesa, in Ado Odo Otta LGA of the State. The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that the student lost his life during a clash between two   rival cult groups in the area on Monday evening. According to Adejobi, the Police placed a manhunt on the concerned cult members before one Ologunlagba Timilehin, 21, a confessed cultist was arrested by the Police. The Ogun State Police Command said it had arrested more than 200 cultists belonging to various groups in the state and they have been charged to courts accordingly.

Court Remands Driver in Prison for Killing Girlfriend

A Lagos State Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Ebute Metta area of the state on Wednesday remanded a 28-year-old driver, Raphael Effiong, in Ikoyi prison for allegedly killing his girlfriend. Effiong was accused by the police of murdering his girlfriend, 29-year-old Gift Sunday, for turning down his marriage proposal in a hotel in Ketu. The accused person is facing a one- count charge of murder. The court presided over by Magistrate F.J. Adefine refused to take his plea but ordered that the accused person be remanded in prisons’ custody, pending an advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

GENERAL

10,000 Displaced Persons in Borno

The on-going military operations to recapture Gwoza town and surrounding villages in Borno State has led to the displacement of about 10,000 residents who have fled to neighbouring Adamawa State and Cameroun. The incessant terrorist attack in the communities led to the seizure of the town and its villages by the Boko Haram insurgents. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and local officials said many of the displaced persons were still trapped on hilltops and stranded without food or water. A fleeing resident Ahmad Musa claimed to have witnessed the massacre of residents by the Boko Haram, revealing that the terrorists killed both adults and children. Musa said the Chief Imam of Gwoza was attacked in his house and killed right before members of his family who later took to their heels. The insurgents were also said to have slit the throat of a serving councillor, Hon. Saleh, of Kuranabasa Ward, as well as his three children.

Female Suicide Bombers Arrested with Trainer

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Kano has arrested a man suspected to be the master trainer of Boko Haram female suicide bombers with 16 females who were reportedly being trained for suicide operations. It was gathered that the man, identified as Ibrahim Ibrahim, was arrested in Dala LGA of Kano State during a raid by the JTF. The females were being trained to carry out suicide bombings when the JTF raided their training ground and arrested them and their trainer. The just concluded Sallah celebration was marred in the state as female suicide bombers struck at five different locations. About 30 persons lost their lives to the female suicide bombers who were believed to be less than 20 years old. Spokesperson of the JTF in Kano, Captain Ikechukwu Eze, confirmed an operation in Dala LGA, adding that investigations were ongoing.

Troops Launch Counter-offensive to Retake Gwoza from Boko Haram

The Nigerian military in Borno State has launched a new counter-offensive aimed at retaking the strategic town of Gwoza, where it suffered one of its heaviest loss till date to the Boko Haram terrorists with one of its Commanders either captured or missing. The latest development, which is yet to be confirmed by the military authorities is said to have left some units of the Nigerian Army -213 battalion and 234 battalion- in disarray following surprised attacks by the sect who rebuffed the military’s initial attempt to retake the town. According to military sources that spoke to THISDAY, the surprised defeat was blamed on the Brigade Commander, who was alleged to have ordered them to beat a hasty retreat, which resulted in the capture of tanks and other equipment by Boko Haram with their Battalion Commander, Lt. Colonel Agu, of the 234 Battalion still missing. However, the Nigerian troops and Special Forces were said to have reinforced to take back the town and as well as rescue operations to locate some missing soldiers with about three Alpha Jets and some reconnaissance air crafts said to be involved.

Ebola: FG Bans Inter-State Movement of Corpses and Critically Ill

The National Council on Health has banned the transport of corpses and critically ill persons on both local and international routes with immediate effect. It said only dead bodies with waivers granted by the Federal Ministry of Health would be transported within and into Nigeria. Such corpses must be conveyed only in ambulances. To show its seriousness on the movement of corpses, the council advised state governments to enact legislation for its effective compliance. The NCH which is the highest policy making body in the health sector reached the decision after a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday. To ensure immediate compliance with   the ban, Chukwu   briefed the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and   the National Road Transport Owners   on the council’s decisions. He told those whose vehicles ply international routes to demand medical reports from sick passengers before accepting to carry them to Nigeria. Meanwhile the World Health Organisation said it had approved the use of trial drugs such as the ZMapp serum by persons infected with the Ebola Virus Disease.

7 Killed as Fuel Tanker, Hilux Collide in Abuja

A Toyota Hilux vehicle, Sunday, hit a petrol tanker fully laden with 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, while descending the Koita Bridge, on Abuja-Lokoja highway, near Yangoji, on the outskirts of Abuja, killing seven people. The accident occurred as the Abuja-bound Toyota Hilux van overtook the tanker, but ran into it in an effort to return to the lane. The tanker was said to have ultimately lost control while descending the Koita Bridge and caught fire after it somersaulted and landed on the Hilux. It was learnt that five persons in the Hilux van, including the driver, the tanker driver and his assistant all died. The Unit Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), at Yangoji, Austin Chukwudi Okeke, said his team promptly arrived at the scene of the accident to rescue the victims, but regretted that there was no survivor.

10 Ebola Cases Confirmed In Nigeria, 177 under Surveillance
…5 Responding To Treatment -Fashola

Nigeria has now confirmed 10 cases of Ebola virus disease, with 177 persons under surveillance, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed in Abuja, on Monday. Chukwu disclosed that Nigeria was the first and only African country to have donated $3.5 million for humanitarian aid and capacity building to the three Ebola affected countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, as well as the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and the ECOWAS Ebola Fund. Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, has said five out of the 10 Nigerians infected with the Ebola virus are responding to treatment at the Isolation Unit, Yaba, Lagos. According to him, the disease was not a death sentence, provided the right things were done, noting that experiences had shown that the human body could fight back, through constant hydration, intravenous infusion and regular administration of antibiotics.

14 Killed in Plateau Attacks

Following invasion of Yelwa town in Shendam and Jos East LGAs of Plateau State by gunmen, no fewer than 14 people were killed and 230 cattle rustled last weekend in the two council areas. It was learnt that the gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed Yelwa town inhabited mostly by herdsmen in the early hours of Sunday and dispossessed the cattle rearers of their cattle after engaging them and killed 12 people in the melee which ensued. It was further learnt that the gunmen, heavily armed with dangerous weapons and shooting sporadically, destroyed many valuables, including houses. In another incident, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded Babayo-Zarazong village in Jos East LGA of the State and snuffed life out of two of the natives and set houses ablaze. The gunmen, who had been terrorising the village and other neighbouring villages sneaked into the hilly village at about 1am, when the inhabitants had gone to bed and set houses on fire. Police Spokesman, Abu Emmanuel, confirmed both Yelwa Shemdam and Jos East attacks.

Boko Haram Abducts 100 from Borno Community

The outlawed Boko Haram sect has abducted about 100 persons from a Borno community, Doron Baga, it was gathered on Thursday A source, who spoke to journalists in Maiduguri, said the insurgents attacked the lowly town on Sunday evening and took away some boys and young men. It is believed that the abducted young men may be forcefully conscripted.  It was also gathered that about ten persons were killed by the insurgents. Some of those that fled the area that were sighted in Maiduguri, on Thursday, said they had to flee the area because of the constant attack by insurgents. One of those who fled into Maiduguri, Halima Alhaji Adamu said six members of Hadejia community in Doron Baga were killed and about 100 young men were abducted on Sunday when the members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram launched an attack on their community displacing thousands who are now seeking refuge in some part of Borno and Yobe state.

DHQ Warns Women against Interference in Deployment of Troops

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has urged women, especially the wives of the military personnel posted to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Borno State, not to interfere with the deployment of troops in the on-going counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram. Although the situation was quickly brought under control, a DHQ statement said the issues being raised by the women were clarified to them by the authorities of the 7 Division. Furthermore, the DHQ said it was made clear that while the army remains sensitive to the needs of the family members, it was not normal or proper for any officer or soldier to decide where he or she would be deployed, neither will such demand be encouraged from spouses in a period of serious operation when the entire nation is depending on the army to address the security challenges.

INTERNATIONAL

39 Killed as Iranian Plane Crashes after Take-Off

At least 39 people were killed on Sunday when an Iran-140 Sepahan Air passenger plane crashed after takeoff from Tehran’s Mehrabad airport on a flight to Tabas in northeast Iran. Nine persons of the 48 passengers and crew had survived with injuries and have been hospitalised. Iran’s airlines have been plagued by crashes, which Iranian politicians blame on international sanctions that block the airlines from replacing their aging fleets. About 14 crashes involving Iranian planes were reported in the decade to January 2011. President Hassan Rouhani ordered a halt to all flights of the Iran-140 pending full investigation. The pilot detected technical issues four minutes after takeoff and tried to return to the airport, state television said, but the twin-engine turboprop crashed on a road at 9.18 am local time. One eyewitness said the plane crashed into a wall. One survivor said he was saved by jumping through a hole in the plane’s body created by a blast.  The plane’s black box was found. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

Riots after US Police Kill Black Teenager

Tensions have flared in the US state of Missouri after a black teenager was fatally shot by police, sending a crowd of local residents into riots. The shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old high school graduate, sent hundreds of residents from the St Louis suburb of Ferguson into a heated confrontation with police. A spokesman with the St Louis County Police Department confirmed one of its officers had opened fire, but did not give a reason behind the shooting. Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, described the shooting as “wrong and cold-hearted,” while Brown’s stepfather, Louis Head, held a sign that read “Ferguson police just executed my unarmed son!!!” Police armed with clubs hurled tear gas and deployed officers with dogs to curb the violence which erupted late Sunday in the suburb in Missouri. The violence broke out after large crowds gathered Sunday for a vigil at the spot where police shot and killed Brown a day earlier. A witness identified as Dorian Johnson disclosed that he was walking with Brown when a police officer confronted them and drew his weapon. The officer shot Brown, who "turned around and put his hands in the air," Johnson said. The officer still shot him dead, the witness stated.

Iraqi Kurds Being Armed to Face IS Militants

Iraqi Kurds are "being armed by various sources" in the fight against Islamic State jihadists, a US State Department official said Monday. The official added that "they are getting something rapidly" after the IS militants' strong gains in Kurdish regions in northern Iraq. Security sources said Monday that IS fighters had defeated Kurdish troops in the flashpoint Iraqi town of Jalawla, killing at least 10 in a fierce two-day battle. On Sunday France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that in consultation with its EU partners Paris was looking at supplying arms to the Kurds. France and Britain have pledged support for a US-led operation helping Iraqi civilians -many of them from the Yazidi minority- who are fleeing a murderous advance by IS militants. While all three Western countries are providing emergency aid for the besieged civilians, the United States has also been conducting air strikes on IS positions.

Jailbreak in Ukraine after Blast Donetsk Prison

An artillery shell landed in a high-security prison in the city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, sparking a riot in which 106 inmates escaped, officials say. At least one prisoner was killed in the explosion and several were injured. Ukrainian government artillery has been pounding areas on the outskirts of the city, held by pro-Russian separatists. The Donetsk officials say several of the escaped inmates had been returned to the prison. Ukraine is considering the possibility of allowing a humanitarian mission into the area, as residents struggle without power or reliable sources of food. Many are facing great hardship in Donetsk and the city of Luhansk, taking refuge in basements and bomb shelters. Russia has proposed creating an aid corridor but the government in Kiev and Western powers fear that it could be used as a pretext to bring Russian military forces across the border. Some 1,500 people are estimated to have died since the conflict began in April. Rebels sparked the four-month battle when they overran large swathes of the east and declared independence from Ukraine.

UN Security Council in South Sudan Push Peace

UN Security Council ambassadors landed in war-torn South Sudan Tuesday in a bid to end eight months of conflict that has pushed the young nation to the brink of famine. Thousands of people have been killed and over 1.5 million have fled almost eight months of carnage, sparked by a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar, with battles between government troops, mutinous soldiers and ragtag militia forces divided by tribe. British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said the visit was to "engage with leaders" and witness "the humanitarian crisis first hand". The ambassadors are due to meet with Kiir as part of their two-day visit to the world's youngest nation. The UN Security Council last week threatened to slap sanctions on leaders if fighting continues.

IS Militants Execute 500 Northern Iraq

Iraq militants have executed at least 500 Yazidi people, dumping their victims in mass graves across the north of the country, an official has said. There is “striking evidence” that Islamic State fighters, formerly known as ISIS, have buried some of their victims, including women and children, alive as they continue their bloody advance across Iraq. The militants have driven as many as 150,000 Yazidis from their homes into the Sinjar mountains where they are cut off from food and water and struggling to survive. Hundreds are already reported to have died. Yazidis flee as the jihadists carve a bloody trail through northern Iraq. The jihadists have also kidnapped 300 women as slaves. Officials earlier said at least 20,000 of those trapped in the mountains had managed to escape into Syria and been escorted by Kurdish fighters back into Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraqi Kurdish President, Massoud Barzani, has appealed to the international community for weapons to help them fight the extremists.

Twelve Ukrainian Fighters Killed in Ambush

Twelve Ukrainian nationalist fighters, battling a pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine, were killed early on Wednesday and an unknown number taken captive when rebels ambushed their bus, a spokesman for their group said. The separatists opened fire on the bus, that was taking the men to fight just outside the rebel-held city of Donetsk, at the nearby village of Mandrykino, said a spokesman for Right Sector, extreme nationalists who are supporting government forces. It was the group's biggest single loss of life since violence erupted in Ukraine's Russian-speaking east in April, spokesman, Artem Skoropadsky, said. The unit had run into separatists unexpectedly because a government forces' push against the rebels in the last few days had moved them from their usual positions, he said.

Canada to Donate Ebola Vaccine to WHO

Canada will donate a small quantity of an experimental Ebola vaccine developed in its government lab to the World Health Organization for use in Africa, the country's health minister said on Tuesday. The decision to donate the vaccine came after the WHO said on Tuesday that it was ethical to offer untested drugs to people infected by the virus. The Canadian government will donate between 800 to 1,000 doses of the vaccine, with the final number given dependent on how much Canada holds back for research and clinical trials. The government will also keep a small supply in case it is needed domestically. Health Minister, Rona Ambrose, said she offered the vaccine to Dr. Margaret Chan, director general of the WHO. The U.S. is also working on a vaccine and the WHO and governments involved were discussing possible use in Africa, Dr. Greg Taylor, deputy chief public health officer of the Public Health Agency of Canada told Reuters in an interview ahead of the Canadian announcement. The government's vaccine is separate from the treatment being developed by Canada's Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp.

Kidnapper Behind Haitian Prison Break Recaptured

Police have recaptured 19 fugitives, including an alleged kidnapper who escaped from custody during a mass breakout at a prison outside the Haitian capital. Clifford Brandt, the son of a prominent Haitian businessman, and at least two of his associates were captured at a border area with the help of Dominican police and around 50 Haitian officers, Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, disclosed. Sunday’s attack on the Haitian prison in Croix-des-Bouquets led to the escape of 329 inmates. At least two guards suffered bullet wounds during the breakout. Authorities believe the attack was intended to free Brandt. Police were searching the nation for the escaped prisoners and had asked for help from Interpol, authorities in the neighbouring Dominican Republic and nearby Jamaica because some of the men might have fled abroad, National Police Chief Godson Orleus said.

Libya Seeks Foreign Intervention on Insecurity

Libya’s parliament has called for foreign intervention to protect civilians from deadly clashes between rival militia groups. Lawmakers were meeting in Tobruk in the east because of violence in the capital Tripoli and the second city Benghazi, and 111 out of 124 voted for the call. Neither the UN nor any foreign power has any current plans to intervene. Libya has been gripped by violence involving militias that spearheaded the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi. More than three years after the uprising, Libya’s police and army remain weak in comparison to the militias who control large parts of the country. Shortly after the decree on intervention, the parliament also voted to disband all militias, but the state has no means to enforce this measure. The vote comes a day after Tripoli police chief Col Muhammad Suwaysi was shot dead in an ambush by unknown gunmen.

Chilean Airport Security Chief Sacked over Airport Robbery

Chile has fired the security chief of the country’s main airport after an “embarrassing” robbery of more than $10m (£6.2) at the cargo terminal. Chilean Defence Minister Jorge Burgos said a probe had been launched into how eight armed men had managed to steal the money from a security van at the airport in the capital, Santiago. He called Tuesday’s incident “unfortunate and serious”. Security footage showed the gang had acted disguised as airport workers. He also pledged that the airport’s security measures would be “revised, modified and altered”. Dressed as ground personnel, the robbers entered the cargo area of Santiago’s international airport and intercepted the armoured vehicle carrying the money. It was being loaded onto a plane bound for banks and mining companies in northern Chile. The gunmen held up the guards, who had left their weapons at airport security, and emptied the security truck, before running away without firing any shots. The robbery itself – one of the biggest in Chilean history – was not captured on camera, but the footage showed the bandits fleeing in two white vans two minutes after the theft.

Daughter, Boyfriend Kill Mother in Indonesia

The daughter of an American tourist slain and stuffed into a suitcase at a $500 per night Bali hotel and the teenager’s boyfriend were charged with murder on Friday. Under Indonesian law, Heather Lois Mack, 19, and her 21-year-old boyfriend Tommy Schaefer potentially face the death penalty by firing squad. A suitcase containing the half-naked corpse of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, 62, of the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois, was found on Tuesday. The luggage had been wrapped in a garbage bag and left in a waiting taxi for two hours before being discovered, police said. Witnesses told investigators that Mack seemed panicked when she allegedly left the suitcase and told a taxi driver to wait for a “go” sign, adding: “I’m getting my mom.” A security guard at the plush St. Regis Bali resort also said the weight of the silver suitcase had made him suspicious. When Mack and Schaefer did not return for two hours, the taxi driver called police. Bali Police Chief, Benny Mokalu, said that six witnesses had been interviewed. Investigators were planning to speak to at least seven others. Chicago-based lawyer Michael Elkin has been hired by Mack, said the allegations against the teen were untrue. Both Mack and Schaefer are undergoing psychological and other tests, according to police.

Pakistan Security Forces Foil Air Base Attack, Kill 10 Attackers

Pakistani police say 10 attackers were killed when security forces thwarted an assault on two air bases near the southwestern city Quetta. Fighters armed with grenades and automatic weapons attacked the Samungli and Khalid bases on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, late on Thursday night. “Security forces deployed at Samungli airbase opened fire as they spotted the armed militants trying to barge into the base,” provincial Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said. He added that no aircraft or air force installations had been damaged as security forced had prevented the fighters from entering the base. Four bombs were also defused near the Khalid base, he said. Police chief, Muhammad Amleesh, said 11 security personnel were wounded in the attack. Two civilians were also reportedly injured. Amleesh said that five fighters were killed at Samungli and five at Khalid base. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Intense Gun Battles in Mogadishu

At least 14 people were killed and more than 20 injured as heavy fighting broke out in Mogadishu after government troops launched a dawn attack on a house belonging to a former militia leader as part of a disarmament campaign, residents and officials said. Explosions and gunfire were heard on Friday in the Somali capital as government troops backed by African Union forces battled militiamen. “At least 14 people, mostly militia, died in the fighting this morning. Government forces want to disarm fighters loyal to Ahmed Daaci, a former militia leader and ex-district commissioner of Mogadishu’s Wadajir. The Somali government’s latest disarmament campaign is an attempt to reduce the number of weapons that could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda-linked fighters. Raids over the last week have netted about 500 guns and hundreds of boxes of ammunition, said Mohamed Yusuf, the spokesman for Somalia’s national security ministry.