Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week 38

PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

Police Nab Fake DSS Operative for Impersonation

The Sagbama Divisional Police Command in Bayelsa State, on Thursday, arrested a 47-year-old man, Victor David, for allegedly claiming to be an officer of the State Command of the Department of the State Security (DSS) and for the extortion of a sum of N20, 000 from a suspected cultist in the area. It was gathered that the alleged fake DSS officer, was arrested following a case of extortion file against him by a suspected cultist identified as Moses Oseibai, who had paid him N20,000 to secure his freedom from the custody of the Nigerian Police in Sagbama. The fake DSS officer, Victor David, was reported to have confessed to the crime and charged to the Sagbama Magistrate Court for impersonation and fraud, according to the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Alex Akhigbe.

Varsity IMSU PRO Abducted in Owerri

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, PRO, Nze Ralph Njoku-Obi, was last Sunday at his residence. Some unidentified armed gang scaled the perimeter fence of Njoku-Obi’s private residence at Owalla, Uratta, Owerri North LGA of the state to kidnap the university scribe. It was also gathered that the armed hoodlums struck at about 2am, shot sporadically to scare people away from the scene, before whisking their hapless victim away to an unknown destination. While the ugly incident had become a source of worry to Owalla people, it was equally gathered that the IMSU community was also rattled.

Enugu Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers, Robbers in Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested nine persons suspected to be members of armed robbery and kidnap gangs operating in the state. Five of them that allegedly belong to an armed robbery gang were apprehended while planning a robbery operation in Enugu while the four suspected kidnappers were nabbed in their hideout after a gun duel with operatives of the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the state command, which left some of the suspects fatally injured. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed that the policemen had a tip off that “the suspects were about carrying out a robbery operation with a coal city taxicab when the operatives swoop on them and upon thorough search of suspects and vehicle, a locally made pistol with three live cartridges concealed by the door side of the vehicle were discovered.”

Politician Shot Dead in Imo

House of Representatives aspirant for Mbaitoli-Ikeduru Federal Constituency of Imo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kingsley Nkemka, has been shot dead by suspected assassins. Nkemka, who hails from Ezioha village in Eziama Obiaho, Umuoha in Mbaitoli local government area of Imo State, was murdered on Tuesday at about 8pm opposite APC head office at Umuagwu Umuoha ward, Ebom Mberi, Mbaitoli council area. It was gathered that four yet-to-be identified persons, who were in the company of the late Nkemka, were also shot and wounded. It was gathered that the late aspirant had gone for a meeting, and was heading home when the assassins, who were spotted on bike, struck. Some commercial motorcyclists and residents near the T-junction where Nkemka was shot told National Mirror yesterday that they heard the sporadic shooting but thought it was the usual armed robbery in the area. Police spokesman, Andrew Enwerem, described the killing as a proven case of assassination.

Police Arraign 3 Men over Alleged Kidnap in Enugu

Three young men were on Monday appear before an Enugu North Magistrates’ Court, charged with kidnapping three women while in possession of a rifle.. Prosecutor, Emma Akpa, told the court that the matter was reported to Abakpa Nike police station, on August 19. Akpa said that the accused persons kidnapped Salome Nwankwo, Chisom Okorie and Uchechukwu Agu, while armed with an AK 47 rifle at different locations in Enugu. However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Akpa requested for an adjournment of the case to enable him come to the court with the case file. The Magistrate, Mrs. J.N Okibe, said that the court could not hear the matter because the case file was not before the court and transferred it to Enugu East Magistrate Court.

Man Kills Wife over Cassava Farm

The Anambra State Police Command is currently investigating the death of a middle aged woman who was killed in Akili Ogidi, Ogbaru LGA in a mysterious circumstance. A source disclosed that said there are conflicting reports surrounding the death of the woman, adding that the police are still investigating the killing. Meanwhile, the state chairman of the Akili-Ogidi Vigilante services, Mr Emenike Aligwe, disclosed that the suspect had told his late wife, whom he divorced not long ago, to go with him to their cassava farm to share it. It was further gathered that after the farm was shared, he killed her. He said it took them the whole night to search for him before they could arrest him inside a thick forest. He expressed happiness that the man had been arrested and handed over to the police.

Bride, Groom Killed on Wedding Eve

A man and woman set to be joined in holy matrimony in Enugu were shot dead by gunmen suspected to be cult members. Three other persons including the manager of a filling station were shot dead during the sporadic shooting by the unknown assailants who had laid siege on Abakpa and Trans-Ekulu area of Enugu. The incident occurred penultimate Friday night at a filling station along Trans-Ekulu. The gunmen had allegedly trailed the couple to the filling station where they were said to be buying fuel. The gunmen were said to have, on arrival at the station, shot sporadically at the bride and groom who were in their car buying fuel and they reportedly died on the spot. The manager of the filling station, a pump attendant and another person buying fuel at the time were also shot dead by the gunmen who immediately thereafter fled in their waiting vehicle. Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the incident.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

JTF Discovers Stolen Crude Oil in Shrines and Septic Tanks

The Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta region, code named, Operation Pulo Shield, has said that it discovered stolen crude oil in shrines and septic tanks in some communities of Delta and Bayelsa States. A statement by the spokesman of JTF, Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, said the stolen crude was reportedly buried inside “traditional grounds”, sitting rooms of a house and septic tanks to avoid detection from security agencies. Anka said the troops also seized a sewage truck laden with 12,000 litres of stolen crude. He said the sewage truck was intercepted along Ibada Amukpe community in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State. He added that the JTF troops raided eight illegal bunkering sites at Opumani creek and Adudu in Warri South LGA, where oil thieves operate. He said items seized include ten pumping machines, 17 cooking points, three illegal storage tanks and eight metal tanks. He said the sites and equipment were destroyed in line with the task force mandate in the Niger Delta.

Navy Officers Injured in Clash with Warri Youths

The Nigerian Navy said on Monday that two of its officers were injured in a skirmish between its officers and youths of Ode-Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Area of Delta. Capt. Musa Gemu, Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Delta, confirmed the incident, but declined to give further details about the attack. Mr Femi Uwaway, a member of Ugborodo Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Interface Committee, also confirmed the incident, but called it a little skirmish. He said he could not ascertain whether people were injured in the skirmish. The youths were alleged to have confronted the security personnel at about 2.00 a.m. and ordered them to vacate the community.

Mechanic Arrested for Kidnapping Client’s Children

An Asaba-based auto mechanic, who allegedly abducted two children belonging to one of his clients in Asaba, the Delta State capital, has been arrested by police in Delta State. It was gathered that the suspect, who is a mechanic to the father of the victims, went to the home of the client while he was away, and took the two children away with the promise of buying them biscuits. They agreed to follow the mechanic because he was a familiar face. The suspect took the victims to a supermarket, where he bought biscuits and other items and also had the children shave their hair without the consent of the parents. His pranks were suspected when he was unable to pay for the items he bought and was also unable to give proper identification of the victims. At that point, the supermarket owners became suspicious and questioned the children whether the suspect was their father and they said no, explaining that the suspect carried them from their house when their parents were not at home. Police spokeswoman, Celestina Kalu, confirmed his arrest of the suspect. Two suspected car snatchers have been nabbed by men of the Delta State Police Command. One of the stolen cars was also recovered from the suspects. The suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and mentioned the name of the other suspect, who was equally arrested.

Robbers Abandon Gun, Bullets, Evade Arrest in Delta

Some armed robbers operating with a tricycle in Warri on Friday abandoned their assault rifle and bullets as youths and police in the area closed in on them. Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu said that the Divisional Police Officer,  ‘B’ Division Warri, Imade Graham, had heard gunshots while in his office around Okumagba Avenue, and quickly mobilised patrol teams to the scene. The patrol team, assisted by some youths in the area chased the hoodlums into Okere-Urhobo Community. During the pursuit and exchange of fire, the hoodlums were forced to abandon their operational weapons and escape with bullet wounds. “The weapons which were promptly recovered include one Assault rifle, and three Assault rifle Magazines with thirteen rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition. “Preliminary investigation has revealed that the hoodlums stormed the area on a tricycle and attempted to rob someone they trailed from a bank,” she said.

Police Rescue Woman from Kidnappers in Delta

Police detectives attached to the state police command Asaba, Delta state, have rescued a woman from the hands of kidnappers along the DLA road in the early hours of Tuesday. Reports said that the detectives unknown to the kidnap suspect laid siege around the popular DLA road, after the victim was kidnapped and was being taken to an unknown destination. The police swooped on the vehicle where they discovered the victim was masked. It was gathered that immediately they kidnapped her, her family quickly reported the matter to the police, and the police immediately swung into action to rescue the victim and arrest the kidnappers on the spot. Confirming the arrest of the kidnappers, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Celestina Kalu, said the victim was rescued unhurt in an uncompleted building along the road following the report by her family members.

Community Alleges 5 Missing after Clash with Neighbours

Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South-West LGA of Delta State has alleged that five youths of the community are missing following a clash with their Itsekiri counterparts in Warri. The community’s Governing Council, Ogbe-Ijoh Youths Council and the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, charged the state government and security agencies to prevail on perceived abductors of the youths to release them and return valuables carted away from them without delay. Chairman, Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council, Mr. Lucky Oromoni, President-General, Ogbe-Ijoh Youths Council, Mr. Christmas James and Chairman, Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom chapter of the IYC, Mr Liberty Arerebo condemned the said attack. According to the community representatives, the youths of the community were returning from a Monday meeting with an oil servicing firm, Saipem in the Warri Ports premises when they were allegedly attacked by their Itsekiri neighbours. However, the police stated that nobody was missing, and that every person was accounted for.

IPMAN Condemns Attack on Warri Filling Stations

The Warri chapter of the Independent Petroleum Markets of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed its members to open their filling stations for sale of petroleum products, saying its members were not on strike. It said though some NUPENG members were employees of IPMAN members, the association was not consulted or "carried along" by the strikers. The directive issued in Warri was prompted by the reported attack on some outlets by members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Union of Nigeria (NUPENG) in an attempt to compel the marketers to support the ongoing strike by the union. The Warri Council of NUPENG last week declared an industrial action over the reported sack of its members in the employ of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL). However, IPMAN warned that the NUPENG directive was not in any way binding on the independent marketers and could not, therefore, be compelled to shut their petroleum products outlets as they were not members of NUPENG.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

Gunmen Attack, Rape FRCN Students on Training

Gunmen, last Friday, stormed the Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN) Training School in Lagos State, raping and robbing many of the female trainee journalists. An eye witness in the school said that was the third time the armed men would be attacking the school, raping the girls and dispossessing others, including male students and workers on night duties of their valuables. The three attacks on the school have left many of the workers shocked, especially as policemen were supposed to be manning the school gate. The last attack occurred at about 2am, with the gunmen targeting the financial records offices. Three of the gunmen wore masks and focused on the new BOND FM station, which has a lot of new expensive transmitting devices.

Police Nab Suspected Car Thieves with 20 Vehicles

The Anti-Robbery team of the Ogun State Police Command has arrested three members of a notorious gang that specialised in car theft at Itoki in Ifo LGA. The gang was said to have stolen more than twenty vehicles in Agbado area of Ogun State within the last one month. The State Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the suspects were arrested while the anti-robbery team was on routine patrol within the area. According to Adejobi, the Policemen became suspicious when they came across a Volkswagen car abandoned at Itoki area. The policemen laid ambush for the perpetrators and eventually arrested one Okechukwu Ebeatu, 26, while attempting to move away with the car.

Man, 28, Charged With Rape of 2 Teenagers in Ogun

An Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday remanded a 28-year-old man, Morufu Tajudeen, in prison custody over alleged rape of two teenagers. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Anthony Araba, who did not take the plea of the accused, ordered that he should be remanded in Ibara Prisons pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The prosecutor, ASP Banji Sangotokun, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 24 at 10.00 p.m. at Alagbagbo Village, Odeda near Abeokuta. He said the accused with three others still at large had accosted two teenagers (19-year-old) while returning from church, assaulted and raped them. According to him, the accused also stole N6, 000 from them.

Nephew Brings Friends to Rob Uncle

Six suspected armed robbers said to be members of a gang that has been terrorizing Lagos, Delta and Imo states for long have been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos. The suspects identified as: Emmanuel Erherhie, Joseph Ovologbarho, Innocent Ibe, Victor Ezenwa, Oyoma Akbojiyouwi and James Ukerume, were arrested after they carried out an unsuccessful robbery operation in Lagos. Their arrest, according to Police sources, followed an intelligence report received by the Lagos State Police Command on a robbery operation in Festac, which led to arrest of one of the suspects, Innocent Ibe at the robbery scene while others fled. It was gathered that after a long manhunt, other members of the gang were arrested in different areas in Delta State. Recovered from the suspects were four locally made guns and cartridges used for the operation. It was gathered that the leader of the gang, Emmanuel Erherhie contracted his gang members in Delta State to rob his Uncle in Lagos after his uncle allegedly chased him out of his house after he was released from prison.

Farmer Kills Wife over Bag of Garri

A 45 year-old farmer, John Ogunji, has allegedly killed his wife, Christiana Ogunji, in Okitipupa, Ondo State after an argument over sharing of a bag of “garri”. Problem started, after the farmer suggested that the bag of garri be shared equally between the couple. The wife allegedly did not accept the idea. Her alleged effrontery to snub the husband led to a hot argument that later resulted in free for all. The 39-year old deceased according to report, said that the bag of garri should be intact and not shared because of their quarrel. She was said to have insisted that it was improper for a couple to separate the food in the house. The suspect was reportedly irked by the stance of the wife and consequently hit her on the head with a plank. It was learnt that the deceased died before she was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment. Police spokesman, Wole Ogodo said the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigative Department in Akure for further investigation.

4 Arrested over Hijack of Petrol Tankers

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, at the Lagos State Police Command, have smashed a five-man gang of robbers who specialised in hijacking tanker trucks with petroleum products. The suspects were apprehended when SARS operatives got an intelligence report on their activities. A source, who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said: “The gang was behind the hijacking of a truck conveying 33,000 litres of PMS at Anthony Village area of Lagos at gunpoint and diverting same to a filling station in Ikorodu, where the product was sold for N1.5 million.” One of the suspects, Alex Ugboagu, disclosed that his gang used to pose as task force men on patrol and would double cross any truck they intend to hijack.

Jail Breaker Re-Arrested for Robbery

A 29-year-old man, Fabian Oladele, who escaped from a prison during a jailbreak, has been re-arrested for robbery. The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. He specialised in robbery and diversion of trucks. He was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). His gang members arranged his escape from the prison. They disarmed the prison wardens. A vehicle was recovered from the gang in Okitipupa, Ondo State. He was arrested in Ojodu Berger area of Lagos. He took the police to places where the gang had taken diverted trucks, and stolen vehicles. Those places include Ibadan, in Oyo State; Ogbomoso in Oyo State and Ilesha in Osun State. All the diversions were done after he escaped from prison in 2012.

2 Suspected Armed Robbers Arrested in Lagos

The Lagos State police command have arrested two suspected armed robbers, recovered one locally made pistol and weed suspected to be Indian hemp, in the metropolis. Policemen attached to Area ‘G’ Ogba police command were said to be on patrol duty at Oke-Ira when they saw the two hoodlums. When a search was conducted on the duo identified as Rasaki Abowaba and Ugochukwu Dike, police recovered the mentioned items. The police spokesperson said the incident occurred on Thursday. She said the case is under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos.

Liberian Woman Hangs Self in Lagos

Confusion broke out at Bankole Street, Isheri-Oke, Lagos on Friday morning when residents woke up to discover that a woman was hanging on a tree. The woman, popularly called Kate, was found dead in a black sweater and orange skirt under a pear tree. A resident disclosed that the woman was a Liberian who was working in a sachet water factory. Report says that for some time now, the woman had been looking sick and pale and that she did not appear to be having any problem with anyone in the community. However, after the outbreak of the Ebola disease that was imported to Nigeria by a Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, some of the people in the area opted to start avoiding her because she is Liberian. Information gathered from some landlords, who are members of the Isheri Oke Community Development Association confirmed that the incident has been reported to the Isheri Police Division.

Ondo Police Nab Cultists, Robbers, Drug Dealers

Men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested 20 cultists and seven robbery suspects allegedly tormenting the state. The police have also apprehended five cyber crime suspects/internet fraudsters and two Indian hemp dealers in an onslaught launched across the state. The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, Mr Isaac Eke, who disclosed that following the activities of cultists in the state, the command had set up a special squad to track them down and to ensure they were brought to book. He said that the arrest was a result of the efforts of the new squad, stressing that the police was ready to rid the state of criminals. According to him, many of the cult members had confessed to being members of Eye cult that had been disturbing the peace of the state. The commissioner added that some of the suspects had confessed to some killings in Akure and Ondo towns, while two locally made pistols, 200 wraps of weed suspected to be marijuana and others recovered from them.

4 Nabbed for Duping Couple in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command, on Tuesday, paraded four members of a fraud syndicate that allegedly duped a couple of N14.5 million. The couple was told by the fraudsters to give them N20,000 to ward off the looming evil before them, but they ended up paying N14.5 million in three tranches before the fraudsters were arrested. The suspects  arrested on Monday in their den located at Omusorin village in Obafemi/Owode LGA of the state. The fifth suspect, who is said to be the ring leader, one Baba Awotola, fled when men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad stormed their operational base. It was gathered that Ajani, a native of Ilorin, Kwara State, who claimed to be an Islamic cleric, got the couple into the net of the syndicate through the couple’s family friend. The state Police Commissioner, Ikemefuna Okoye, said the syndicate used Ajani to lure the couple, who are rice merchants in Lagos State. Ikemefuna said Ajani used the name of a late popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Bulala, to hoodwink the victims.

Lagos Police Parade Kidnappers of Akure-Based Journalist

The Police in Lagos State, on Tuesday, said it had arrested two members of a notorious gang of kidnappers who were behind the kidnap of an Akure-based journalist, Bunmi Oke, in March 2013. It was gathered that the kidnappers who got N1 million before releasing the victim, were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos, when they attempted to rob a businessman of a large sum of money at Egbeda roundabout in Lagos. Police sources, who gave the identities of the suspects as Bashir Raji Ejiniga, 35 and Christian Jacob, 34, disclosed that the suspects relocated to Lagos from Delta State where they moved to when the police in Akure launched a manhunt for them and other members of the gang.

Many Injured in Police, Bike Riders’ Clash

Many people were reportedly injured and economic activities were paralysed during a scuffle that occurred in Owo, Owo LGA of Ondo State between men of the Ondo State Police Command and commercial motorcycle riders in the ancient town on Tuesday afternoon. It was learnt that trouble began when the patrol van of the police allegedly pursued and knocked the ‘okada’ rider down as the latter was trying to escape arrest for riding an unregistered motorcycle at Owaluwa area of the ancient city. The source said that immediately the news reached the town that a rider had died, many of his colleagues trooped out into the streets to protest the alleged maltreatment of their colleague. It was gathered that the motorcycle riders attempted to attack the policemen on patrol and the police stations in the town but were swiftly repelled. But police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, denied that there was any fracas between the police and people of the town.

45 Feared Dead as Building Collapses in Synagogue Church

About 45 persons are feared dead following the collapse of a building in Synagogue Church, Ikotun, Lagos.  The incident which occurred at about 2pm claimed the lives of many   who were lodged in the 5-storey building owned by the Church. The affected building is said to be reserved for foreigners visiting the Church to seek spiritual help.  It was gathered that three ambulances which came for rescue were filled with dead bodies of those who died in the incident. Although the building is already occupied, sources said that there is ongoing construction on top to provide more accommodation for worshippers.

GENERAL

Boko Haram Launches Attack on Mubi, Michika

Following the aerial onslaught by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on the strategic town of Bama at the weekend, leading to the forced retreat of Boko Haram terrorists from Borno’s second largest town, the sect is reported to have launched a counter-offensive on Mubi and Michika, two important towns in Adamawa State. It was learnt from security sources that Michika had come under severe attack, forcing several of its residents to flee the town to neighbouring towns and villages. However, the insurgents, found it difficult to make inroads into Mubi as they were repelled by the superior firepower of the Nigerian military. The insurgents had, penultimate Friday, launched an attack on Gulak, headquarters of Madagali LGA in Adamawa State. Boko Haram has been laying siege to several major towns and villages in Borno and Adamawa States in recent weeks in its bid to carve out an Islamic enclave. Though it still has Gwoza and Gamboru Ngala, both in Borno State, as well as Banki in Adamawa State, under its control, the Nigerian military has sworn to leave no stone unturned until it recaptures every territory from the sect.

Niger Boat Mishap Claims 33 Lives

A boat mishap, last weekend, claimed 33 persons. The boat, in which the passengers were commuting, capsized between Dere in Niger State and Murtala Bridge on the River Niger. The boat accident was said to have occurred at 4.30 am when a pipeline patrol team flashed its light on the boat which led to the loss of control of the passenger boat conveying about 100 passengers, causing it to hit a tree in the river before it capsized. The passengers did not have life vests on, which was believed to have caused the high casualty figure. The time of the travel may have also shielded the boat from checks by concerned authorities. It is common for river transporters to overload their boats without providing safety jackets for passengers. The Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Abiodun Gambari, confirmed the incident but stated that it occurred outside the jurisdiction of Niger State.

50 Killed as Troops Raid Boko Haram Hideout

As the battle to dislodge hundreds of Boko Haram insurgents from communities in the North East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe continued at the weekend, the Nigerian Military on Monday killed over 50 terrorists when it raided one of their hideouts in Kawuri, Borno State. The military noted that during the raid, two Anti-Aircraft Guns, one Armoured vehicle, one Fabricated Artillery Gun, and assorted types of ammunition were captured. Other weapons, food items and personal belongings were also destroyed in the Kawuri raid, while an officer and two Soldiers were seriously wounded. In a related development, over 20 suspected sect members have been killed in Buratai town during a siege on the residence of the Former Commander, Niger-Delta Special Task Force, Major General Tukur Buratai, an indigene of the town in southern Borno. It was gathered that the insurgents also attacked a primary school in the town, Buratai Central Primary School.

Government Deploys Special Forces in North East

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has assured Nigerians that the ongoing offensive through sustained aerial bombardment and complementary ground assault has helped to halt the terrorists’ advance with most of their structures and strongholds destroyed in North-east towns like Gwoza, Bama, Michika and others. The military’s efforts also got a boost yesterday when the federal government announced the deployment of about 500 military personnel to combat the insurgency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States. Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC) and Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, confirmed the deployment. He further stated that normalcy had returned to Mubi and other cities claimed to have been taken over by the Boko Haram sect.

FRSC Commences Speed Limit Enforcement June, 2015

Beginning from June 1, 2015, motorists are expected to have Maximum Speed Limiter device in their vehicles as a means to reduce road crashes to minimal level. This was disclosed on Friday in Abuja by road stakeholders in a communiqué issued at the end of One-day forum on The National Policy on Maximum Road Speed Limiter for Vehicles. According to the stakeholders, the decision was made because number of crashes and fatalities arising from over speeding was alarming and needed to be curbed. Speaking at the end of the forum, Boboye Oyeyemi, Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer, FRSC, said the commission is presently empowered to apprehend any one that violates speed limit. He also added that the implementation of the policy would be in two batches

Gunmen Kill Six in Attack on Plateau Community

Six persons were killed and another six injured following an attack on Lamba Gyambar community in Wase LGA of Plateau State last weekend. The attackers reportedly swooped on the community at about 11p.m., setting houses ablaze. Narrating the ordeal, a resident of the community, Ibrahim Idris, disclosed that the soldiers who were initially stationed in the area were removed and redeployed to Maiduguri a day earlier, giving the attackers the advantage. Meanwhile residents of Dogon Karfe area of Jos North LGA scampered for safety when a car suspected to be laden with bomb was abandoned for hours in the area. The State Police Command denied the existence of bomb in the said vehicle.

Borno Youths Plan to Take on Islamists

In addition to the extra troops and equipment to be sent by the federal government, about 10,000 youths trooped into the streets of Maiduguri yesterday to protest the siege of the sect on Borno and expressed their readiness to take on the terrorists. The youths, who had initially assembled at the popular Ramat Square Ground at the centre of the town, later marched through the streets to the Shehu of Borno’s palace. The youths said they had resolved to enter Sambisa and other hideouts of the terrorists to hunt them down and bring to an end the ongoing crisis which had been overdrawn since 2009.

3 Killed, 5 injured in Jigawa, Bauchi Accidents

Three persons died on Tuesday in an auto crash in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital. It was gathered that the incident which involved a truck with was caused by brake failure. Three persons died instantly while two others including the driver sustained injuries”. Gidado said the driver and the other person that sustained injuries are receiving treatment at the Dutse General Hospital. Similarly, five people were injured in an auto crash which occurred along the Bauchi-Gombe highway in Kaloma village in Kirfi LGA of Bauchi State. The state police spokesman, Haruna Mohammed, said the incident occurred when the vehicle in which they were travelling had a burst tyre and skidded off the road. He said policemen attached to Kirfi Division rushed to the scene of the crash and took the victims to Alkaleri Hospital, from where they were referred to Gombe Specialist Hospital. He said investigation into the incident has commenced.

Road Accident Claims 18 in Kebbi

At least 18 people were confirmed dead along Jega to Yauri LGAs following a road accident that took place in the night around 3am.The accident involving an 18 seater bus, coming from Ilorin to Sokoto, when they had a head-on collision with a trailer heading south. One of the survivors, Helen Olusola said that she and two men including the driver were the only survivor victims, adding that the trailer’s driver lost control as a result of an attempt to dodge a pothole. Speaking the Road safety officer in charge of Jega LGA, Mohammed Kudu Idris said that only three passengers survived the accident while the late ones have been taken to hospital for further investigation.

Gunmen Kidnap Trader in Benue

There was pandemonium in Katsina-Ala local government area of Benue state, as over 15 armed robbers raided a market called Tom-Anyiin and kidnapped a trader. The entire market and the town were in disarray after the incident which happened at the early hours, making traders and the residents to scamper for safety. It was observed that the robbers who stormed the market in a commando style, shot sporadically into the air to scare away the traders even as the police were said to have arrived the scene of the incident after the robbers had successfully carried out the nefarious act. However, some of the market women had embarked on a peaceful protest to demand the immediate release of the kidnapped trader.

Grandmother, Two Others Remanded for Killing Grandson

A Minna Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, ordered the remand of a 55-year-old woman, Fatima Tsaraka for allegedly killing her grandson. Tsaraka, arraigned alongside Amina Mohammed, 65, and Zhitsun Aliyu, 38, is facing a three-count of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and cannibalism. At the resumed hearing of the case, the Magistrate, Hamidu Bima, ordered the continued detention of the accused pending legal advice from the State Directorate of Public Prosecutions. Bima subsequently adjourned the case to September 25. The Prosecutor, Moses Mbaga, had told the court that the victim’s father, Mohammed Doko, had alleged that the accused abducted the boy, took him to a nearby bush where they slaughtered him, made a meal of his flesh and drank his blood. The accused, who pleaded guilty to the charges, however appealed for leniency and blamed their act on a spell cast on them by witches.

Bandits Kill 36, Dislodge Residents from Zamfara Villages

Armed bandits are reported to have killed 36 people and forced residents out of 10 villages in Mada and Wonaka districts of Gusau LGA of Zamfara State. This is the latest in the series of raids on the farming and herding communities by bandits and cattle rustlers believed to be hiding in forests near the borders with Kaduna and Katsina states. According to a resident, Mallam Tasi’u Kanawa, residents of Fegin Kanawa, Fegin Mahe, Wonaka, Tambalawa, Majiro, Kofa, Fura Girke, Kundamau, Koshiya, Ingwai and many other villages have abandoned their homes.

6 Dead, Property Lost in Gombe Flood

Six people have been confirmed dead, several others displaced and property worth millions of Naira destroyed during a heavy downpour in Gombe metropolis. Dr. Danlami Arabs Rukujei, Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) who confirmed the situation, said the destruction caused by the flood was more pronounced in eight Wards. He said the Wards affected include Checheniya, Jakadafari, Dawaki, Heirwagana, Kumbiya-Kumbiya, Ungwar-Uku, Yelenguruza and Bolari. He said it was too soon to state how many people were displaced or how many houses were affected but that the Agency would soon come up with accurate figure as compilation has begun in earnest.

Two Remanded in Prison for Armed Robbery

A Minna Magistrate on Tuesday remanded two suspects, Rabiu Lawali, 22 and Iliya Ante 25, in prison custody for suspected armed robbery. The suspects were arraigned on a count charge of belonging to a gang of thieves contrary to section 306 of the penal code. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Suleiman Mohammed, told the court that on March 22, officials of Munya local government informed the police of the existence of a criminal hideout in the area. He added that based on the information, a team of policemen and vigilance group raided the hideout and recovered six cutlasses, one knife, six mobile phones, two unregistered Jincheng motorcycles and N13,000. He said that the two suspects, who fled into a nearby bush, were later arrested in Zazaga area of Minna. Mohammed said that during investigation, Lawali told the police he is a commercial motorcycle (Okada) operator in Sarkin Pawa in Munya local government area. He said that the Chairman Okada riders association in Sarkin Pawa told the police that there was nobody bearing the name of Rabiu Lawali among the members of the association.

INTERNATIONAL

AU Troops Raped Vulnerable Somalis – HRW

African Union troops in war-torn and impoverished Somalia have been accused of raping women and girls as young as 12 and traded food aid for sex. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) disclosed this in a damning report on Monday. “Some of the women who were raped said that the soldiers gave them food or money afterwards in an apparent attempt to frame the assault as transactional sex,” the HRW report said. There was no immediate reaction from the AU force AMISOM, whose 22,000 soldiers drawn from six nations have been fighting alongside government troops against the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents since 2007. AMISOM donors include the United Nations, European Union, Britain and the United States. The youngest interviewed was aged just 12, who said she was raped by a Ugandan soldier.

Suicide Bombers Kill 10 in Iraqi Town

Two suicide bombers detonated explosives-rigged vehicles on Monday in Dhuluiyah, a town north of the Iraqi capital that has battled jihadist militants, killing 10 people and injuring over 30 others. The first blast breached a barrier surrounding the Jubur area — which held out against the renewed militant push for the town — while the second bombing struck inside. There was no immediate claim for the attack, but suicide bombings are almost exclusively carried out by Sunni extremists, including those from the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, which spearheaded a major offensive that has overrun swathes of territory since it was launched in June. The initial militant onslaught swept security forces aside, but Baghdad won its first major offensive victory of the conflict late last month, when federal troops, Shiite militiamen and Kurdish fighters broke the 11-week jihadist siege of the town of Amerli.

Ten Die in Colombian Plane Crash

Ten people on board a Colombian plane that crashed in the Amazon jungle were confirmed dead on Sunday. The 10 include eight traders and two crew members, rescue team official, Gustavo Ortega, disclosed. The aircraft with registration number HK-4755 PA 34 Navajo took off from Araracuara Airport in the country’s south around 3:00 pm local time (2000 GMT) on Saturday. It lost contact with air traffic control as it went over the town of Florencia. The wreck of the aircraft was located — fragmented and incinerated — 10 kilometers (six miles) from the urban center of the town of Puerto Santander.

Suicide Car Bomber Kills 12 in Somalia

A suicide car bomber has killed 12 people in an attack aimed at African Union troops in Somalia. A car laden with explosives was rammed into an AU convoy travelling south-west of the capital, Mogadishu, a local governor, Adukadir Mohamed Sidi, disclosed. This is the first attack since militant Islamist group al-Shabab vowed to avenge the killing of its leader Ahmed Abdi Godane last week. He was killed in a US air strike. Monday’s attack took place on the road between Mogadishu and Afgoye town, some 30km (19 miles) from the capital. The BBC’s Mohamed Moalimu in Mogadishu says the injured include AU soldiers. Sidi told him the wounded were being rushed to hospital in Mogadishu. Witnesses reported a huge blast and wave of fire, with civilians on the busy highway between the town and the capital caught up in the explosion. The AU has some 22,000 troops battling militants in Somalia.

Nuns Killed in Burundi Convent Attack

Three elderly Italian nuns have been killed at their convent in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. The motive for the killings is not yet known. Police in the city say they have detained two suspects. The bodies of the nuns - aged 75, 79 and 82 - were discovered at separate times. The Catholic diocese of Parma, Italy, described their death as “the tragic outcome of an armed robbery by a mentally unbalanced person”.

Thousands Trapped in Pakistan Floods

Army and air force troops are working to rescue thousands of people stranded across Indian-administered Kashmir, according to Indian officials, while across the border the Pakistani army says it is helping administration officials move people to safer places. Six days of rains in Indian-administered Kashmir have caused the area’s worst flooding in more than five decades, killing more than 120 people, submerging hundreds of villages and setting off landslides, Indian officials said on Monday. Landslides and flash floods in Kashmir – a Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan – and adjoining parts of northern and eastern Pakistan have left more than 320 people dead so far. The Pakistani toll has crossed the 205 mark, according to a senior government official, and thousands of homes have collapsed. Ahmad Kamal, the Pakistani National Disaster Management Authority spokesman, said flash floods and landslides had killed 131 people in Punjab and 74 others in Pakistani-administered Kashmir and Gilgit.

Police Kill Activist Trying to Storm Yemen Government HQ

Yemeni police shot dead at least one Shiite rebel activist on Tuesday when they opened fire on hundreds of protesters attempting to storm government headquarters, a protest organiser said. The rebel activists have been camped out in the capital for weeks in a campaign to bring down the government and secure greater representation in state institutions. Thousands of rebel activists marched towards the city centre from Change Square, the epicentre of the 2011 uprising that forced veteran strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh from power which the rebels have made a major focus of their own protest campaign. Some activists blocked the capital’s main thoroughfares, while others marched on government headquarters, witnesses said. The marchers were met by anti-riot police who fired tear gas, water cannon and live rounds.

Islamists Bomb Two Convoys, Kill 12 in Somalia

Somalia’s Islamist rebel group bombed African peacekeepers and government vehicles on Monday in twin attacks that left at least 12 civilians dead, marking al Shabaab’s first major attack after they vowed to avenge the recent killing of their leader. The blasts within an hour of each other on the same road southwest of Mogadishu targeted a convoy of African Union (AU) troops and a Somali government convoy of police and national security forces. Civilian buses near the first blast were hit. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, spokesman for al Shabaab’s operations, said that the group was responsible for the attacks. Somalia’s national security minister put the armed forces on higher alert and said the government was preparing for possible attacks on hospitals or schools.

Oscar Pistorius Guilty of Culpable Homicide

A judge found Oscar Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide, the South African term for unintentionally, but unlawfully, killing a person. The verdict comes a day after Judge Thokozile Masipa cleared Pistorius of murder in the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. The maximum prison sentence for culpable homicide in South Africa is 15 years. Sentencing could be weeks away and will come after more legal argument. The verdict also dealt with three other charges, all weapons-related. He was found not guilty of two — a car sunroof shooting incident and illegal possession of ammunition at his house. The judge found Pistorius guilty of the third: a charge involving a shooting at a restaurant. In a shooting from a car’s sunroof, Judge Thokozile Masipa said the state failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no minimum sentence for culpable homicide in South African law, so it will be up to the judge to decide his sentence if that is her verdict. Sentencing takes place in a separate phase of the trial.

Three Knife Attackers Sentenced to Death in China

Three people were condemned to death Friday and one given life in prison for a mass stabbing that killed 31 people in China. The convictions and sentences were handed down Friday by the Intermediate People’s Court in Kunming, in the southwestern province of Yunnan. The March 1 carnage at a train station in Kunming, in southwestern China, also saw more than 140 people wounded. The suspects, whose names appear to identify them as members of the Uighur minority, are accused of “leading a terrorist group” which planned and carried out the attack, Kunming’s Intermediate Court said on a verified microblog account. There was a heavy security presence inside the courtroom with four armed guards sitting opposite the suspects, who had shaved heads and wore prison clothes, state broadcaster CCTV showed. One of the accused was a woman.