Heavy security in Aso Rock as gunmen storm SSS office

Security was quickly beefed up around the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday morning as heavy shootings were recorded at the neighbouring headquarters of the State Security Service known as Yellow House.

The SSS headquarters is located behind the Villa.

The access gate to the seat of power through the Fire Service office in Asokoro was quickly shut while more heavily armed soldiers were seen at the gate leading to the Villa through the Federal Secretariat.

Military helicopters were also seen hovering the sky at the time of filing this report.

Our correspondent who attempted to access the SSS headquarters area through the Aso Drive was turned back alongside other motorists in front of the Millennium Park by armed SSS operatives.

An operative who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that trouble started earlier in the day when one of the suspects in the service’s custody overpowered an operative who was in his cell to feed him.

The suspect was said to have shot the operative with his own rifle and went ahead to release his co-suspects.

The source said, “An operative went to feed a suspect this morning. The suspect was not properly chained, so he pushed down the operative and quickly dispossessed him of his rifle and shot him.

“He quickly released his co-inmates who started escaping with some scaling the fence.”

The incident led to a gun battle between the suspects and the SSS operatives.

Our correspondent learnt that in the process, no fewer than 18 suspects were killed while about 20 were re-arrested with two rifle recovered from them.

Two SSS operatives were also said to have been critically injured.

At the time of filing this report, security operatives were still combing the thick bush that surrounds the headquarters in search of remaining fleeing suspects who were said to have scaled the fence.

As the news of the incident spread, security was also quickly beefed up at the Nigeria Police Force headquarters called the Louis Edet House located in Area 11, not too far from the Presidential Villa.

 An Armoured Personnel Carrier was used to completely block a lane on the road leading to Federal Secretariat with motorists driving one way.

Source: Punch

Heavy security in Aso Rock as gunmen storm SSS office

Security was quickly beefed up around the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday morning as heavy shootings were recorded at the neighbouring headquarters of the State Security Service known as Yellow House.

The SSS headquarters is located behind the Villa.

The access gate to the seat of power through the Fire Service office in Asokoro was quickly shut while more heavily armed soldiers were seen at the gate leading to the Villa through the Federal Secretariat.

Military helicopters were also seen hovering the sky at the time of filing this report.

Our correspondent who attempted to access the SSS headquarters area through the Aso Drive was turned back alongside other motorists in front of the Millennium Park by armed SSS operatives.

An operative who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that trouble started earlier in the day when one of the suspects in the service’s custody overpowered an operative who was in his cell to feed him.

The suspect was said to have shot the operative with his own rifle and went ahead to release his co-suspects.

The source said, “An operative went to feed a suspect this morning. The suspect was not properly chained, so he pushed down the operative and quickly dispossessed him of his rifle and shot him.

China seizes $14.5 billion assets from family, associates of ex-security chief

Chinese authorities have seized assets worth at least 90 billion yuan ($14.5 billion) from family members and associates of retired domestic security tsar Zhou Yongkang, who is at the centre of China's biggest corruption scandal in more than six decades, two sources said.

More than 300 of Zhou's relatives, political allies, proteges and staff have also been taken into custody or questioned in the past four months, the sources, who have been briefed on the investigation, told Reuters.

The sheer size of the asset seizures and the scale of the investigations into the people around Zhou - both unreported until now - make the corruption probe unprecedented in modern China and would appear to show that President Xi Jinping is tackling graft at the highest levels.

But it may also be driven partly by political payback after Zhou angered leaders such as Xi by opposing the ouster of former high-flying politician Bo Xilai, who was jailed for life in September for corruption and abuse of power.

'Zhou, 71, has been under virtual house arrest since authorities began formally investigating him late last year. He is the most senior Chinese politician to be ensnared in a corruption investigation since the Communist Party swept to power in 1949.

"It's the ugliest in the history of the New China," said one of the sources, who has ties to the leadership, requesting anonymity to avoid repercussions for speaking to the foreign media about elite politics.

The government has yet to make any official statement about Zhou or the case against him and it has not been possible to contact Zhou, his family, associates or staff for comment. It is not clear if any of them have lawyers.

The party's anti-corruption watchdog and the prosecutor's office did not respond to requests for comment. In the secretive world of China's Communist Party, targets of its investigations usually disappear, often for months or even years, until an official announcement is made.

Xi ordered a task force formed in late November or early December to look into accusations against Zhou, sources have previously told Reuters. They have not said what the allegations were except that they were related to violating party discipline, official jargon for corruption.

A third source with ties to the leadership said Zhou had refused to cooperate with investigators, insisting he was the victim of a power struggle.

"Zhou Yongkang is tough and claims its political persecution," the source said.

Zhou rose through the ranks of China's oil and gas sector before joining the elite Politburo Standing Committee in 2007, where as domestic security chief his budget exceeded defense spending. He retired in 2012 and was last seen at an alumni event at the China University of Petroleum on October 1.

Source: Reuters

China seizes $14.5 billion assets from family, associates of ex-security chief

Chinese authorities have seized assets worth at least 90 billion yuan ($14.5 billion) from family members and associates of retired domestic security tsar Zhou Yongkang, who is at the centre of China's biggest corruption scandal in more than six decades, two sources said.

More than 300 of Zhou's relatives, political allies, proteges and staff have also been taken into custody or questioned in the past four months, the sources, who have been briefed on the investigation, told Reuters.

The sheer size of the asset seizures and the scale of the investigations into the people around Zhou - both unreported until now - make the corruption probe unprecedented in modern China and would appear to show that President Xi Jinping is tackling graft at the highest levels.

But it may also be driven partly by political payback after Zhou angered leaders such as Xi by opposing the ouster of former high-flying politician Bo Xilai, who was jailed for life in September for corruption and abuse of power.

Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea: Terry own goal damages Blues’ title tilt

Chelsea’s Premier League title hopes suffered a major blow after John Terry’s 52nd-minute own goal condemned Jose Mourinho’s side to a 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The loss, Chelsea’s second successive away defeat, meant the league leaders were unable to increase the pressure on Manchester City and Liverpool, their nearest challengers.

For Palace, a first win in six games moved Tony Pulis’s side five points clear of the bottom three and improved their chances of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

Chelsea were unable to find a response after Terry had headed past Petr Cech from Joel Ward’s cross and Mourinho must now lift his side ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Paris Saint-Germain.

Mourinho had chosen to focus on the defeat at Aston Villa two weeks previously, and not last weekend’s comprehensive 6-0 defeat of Arsenal, in the build-up to this game, repeating his criticism of referee Chris Foy’s performance at Villa Park.

The Chelsea manager admitted that he feared the loss could prove costly to his side’s title hopes and acknowledged that they could not afford to slip up again against another team in the bottom half of the table.

Perhaps with one eye on the midweek trip to Paris, Mourinho made a switch to a 4-3-3 formation, employing David Luiz, Nemanja Matic and Frank Lampard in a three-man midfield.

The change appeared to unsettle the visitors and they struggled to find the fluency that marked the opening stages of the victories against Galatasaray and Arsenal that followed the loss at Villa.

Source: AFP

Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea: Terry own goal damages Blues’ title tilt

Chelsea’s Premier League title hopes suffered a major blow after John Terry’s 52nd-minute own goal condemned Jose Mourinho’s side to a 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The loss, Chelsea’s second successive away defeat, meant the league leaders were unable to increase the pressure on Manchester City and Liverpool, their nearest challengers.

For Palace, a first win in six games moved Tony Pulis’s side five points clear of the bottom three and improved their chances of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

Chelsea were unable to find a response after Terry had headed past Petr Cech from Joel Ward’s cross and Mourinho must now lift his side ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg at Paris Saint-Germain.

Mourinho had chosen to focus on the defeat at Aston Villa two weeks previously, and not last weekend’s comprehensive 6-0 defeat of Arsenal, in the build-up to this game, repeating his criticism of referee Chris Foy’s performance at Villa Park.

Benue crisis: 32 displaced persons die in camps

It was a case of “from frying palm to fire” as over 32 persons who escaped from the hands of suspected Fulani mercenaries who are currently launching attack on some communities in parts of Benue State, have been reported dead in the last one week in their makeshift camps.

The camps are scattered around North Bank area of Makurdi town.

It was gathered that among the dead were children and the elderly, who in the last few weeks, were exposed to harsh weather due to the escalating crisis.

Sources said most of the camps have been badly hit by diseases like measles, diarrhea and malaria, while majority of the children are also malnourished.

It was observed that the displaced persons have no toilet facilities as they defecate in the open, close to where they are camped..

One of the displaced persons, who gave her name as Mrs Member Ikpa, told newsmen that she lost her three-month–old two baby days ago, after the baby developed constant stooling and vomiting.

According to her, “I had my baby just fives days before the Fulanis sacked us from our homes. One week after getting here, I noticed she started stooling and vomiting, I started giving her drugs but days later, she died.

“Apart from my baby, about 10 other children and babies have also died in the last few days within this our area,” she said.

DailyPost reports that the State governor, Gabriel Suswam has not been seen in public places since the past few days.

Source: Dailypost

Benue crisis: 32 displaced persons die in camps

It was a case of “from frying palm to fire” as over 32 persons who escaped from the hands of suspected Fulani mercenaries who are currently launching attack on some communities in parts of Benue State, have been reported dead in the last one week in their makeshift camps.

The camps are scattered around North Bank area of Makurdi town.

It was gathered that among the dead were children and the elderly, who in the last few weeks, were exposed to harsh weather due to the escalating crisis.

Sources said most of the camps have been badly hit by diseases like measles, diarrhea and malaria, while majority of the children are also malnourished.

It was observed that the displaced persons have no toilet facilities as they defecate in the open, close to where they are camped..

One of the displaced persons, who gave her name as Mrs Member Ikpa, told newsmen that she lost her three-month–old two baby days ago, after the baby developed constant stooling and vomiting.

According to her, “I had my baby just fives days before the Fulanis sacked us from our homes. One week after getting here, I noticed she started stooling and vomiting, I started giving her drugs but days later, she died.

Ibadan forest of death: Land was allocated to FG in 1979 – Oyo State Government

The Oyo State Government has revealed that the forest of death located at Soka area of Ibadan, which was recently uncovered by the police was given to the Federal Government in 1979.

A statement by Festus Adebayo, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said the Federal Government had contacted the Oyo State Government for a parcel of land to be used as work site by a construction company, a multi-national company, handling the Ogunpa channelisation project in 1979.

According to the communique, the Ibadan Municipal Town Planning Authority allocated the land to the company, adding that the said company later sublet the contract to another construction company.

The State Government also revealed that the Federal Government eventually terminated the contract after which the company left the site.

The statement reads, “The structures had since been occupied by no organisation and had been at the mercy of miscreants and hoodlums in the last 10 years. The site had also become a thick forest and den of squatters.

“It was later discovered on March 22, 2014 by security agencies that the place was being used as a den by kidnappers. About 20 people were rescued half-dead while several decomposed bodies were also discovered in the forest. The place was promptly cordoned off by a combined team of security agents.

Adedayo revealed that, “On Monday, March 24, 2014, Governor Abiola Ajimobi visited the place in company of some security chiefs for an on-the-spot assessment. He met with the residents of the community, observed a minute silence and led the people present in prayers for the repose of the souls of the dead victims.

“The governor ordered the immediate revocation of the C of Os of the land, the fumigation of the forest to prevent an outbreak of epidemics and the demolition of the structures being used as kidnappers’ den. The governor’s prompt intervention showed him as a humane person who is passionate about the well-being of his people.” The statement concluded.

Source: Dailypost

Ibadan forest of death: Land was allocated to FG in 1979 – Oyo State Government

The Oyo State Government has revealed that the forest of death located at Soka area of Ibadan, which was recently uncovered by the police was given to the Federal Government in 1979.

A statement by Festus Adebayo, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said the Federal Government had contacted the Oyo State Government for a parcel of land to be used as work site by a construction company, a multi-national company, handling the Ogunpa channelisation project in 1979.

According to the communique, the Ibadan Municipal Town Planning Authority allocated the land to the company, adding that the said company later sublet the contract to another construction company.

The State Government also revealed that the Federal Government eventually terminated the contract after which the company left the site.

The statement reads, “The structures had since been occupied by no organisation and had been at the mercy of miscreants and hoodlums in the last 10 years. The site had also become a thick forest and den of squatters.

“It was later discovered on March 22, 2014 by security agencies that the place was being used as a den by kidnappers. About 20 people were rescued half-dead while several decomposed bodies were also discovered in the forest. The place was promptly cordoned off by a combined team of security agents.

JTF arrests 2 Britons, 12 Nigerians for illegal bunkering

Operatives of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code named Operation Pulo Shield have arrested two Britons and 12 Nigerian technicians over their alleged involvement in illegal bunkering along the Chanomi Creek in the western delta.

The suspects were said to have   offered the operatives of the JTF  the sum of $66,500, to create safe passage for them to siphon crude oil into their barges from a Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline along the Chanomi creek in Delta State.   But the offer was rejected.

The two Britons identified are Messrs Piers Eastwood and Vincent Haywood attached to a United Kingdom based maritime security firm with regional branch in Lagos, according to the JTF, were to provide security/consultancy to MT Crete, a vessel believed to have positioned at Brass open waters for supposed illegal bunkering.

Trouble, it was learnt, started for the suspects when on March 17, a representative of a firm (name withheld) approached the JTF   Headquarters, with an approval letter from the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta and an authorization from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC through the Naval Headquarters.

The approval was to evacuate products from an arrested vessel under the custody of the NN at NNS DELTA between 12 March -14 April 2014.

The Joint Task Force approval was reportedly issued and immediately, the headquarters directed Sector 1 of the special security outfit to monitor their activities in the waterways.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday  at the headquarters of the JTF in Yenagoa where the suspects were paraded, the commander of the outfit, Major General Emmanuel Atewe who was represented by the Media  Coordinator, JMCC Col Onyema   Nwachukwu said they were arrested by operatives of the task force as part of ongoing effort to combat the menace of crude oil theft and other sundry crimes in the region.

Source: Vanguard

JTF arrests 2 Britons, 12 Nigerians for illegal bunkering

Operatives of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code named Operation Pulo Shield have arrested two Britons and 12 Nigerian technicians over their alleged involvement in illegal bunkering along the Chanomi Creek in the western delta.

The suspects were said to have   offered the operatives of the JTF  the sum of $66,500, to create safe passage for them to siphon crude oil into their barges from a Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline along the Chanomi creek in Delta State.   But the offer was rejected.

The two Britons identified are Messrs Piers Eastwood and Vincent Haywood attached to a United Kingdom based maritime security firm with regional branch in Lagos, according to the JTF, were to provide security/consultancy to MT Crete, a vessel believed to have positioned at Brass open waters for supposed illegal bunkering.

Uganda: 253 refugees perish in boat mishap

More than 250 people died in last Saturday's boat capsize on Lake Albert between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, a minister has said.

This is a sharp increase on the initial death toll, partly a result of the vessel carrying many more passengers than the official capacity of 80.

The boat was taking Congolese refugees in Uganda back to their home country.
Congolese authorities have declared three days of national mourning for the victims of last Saturday's disaster - among whom were many children.

On Tuesday they made up more than half of the then death toll of 107. About 300 people are now thought to have been aboard.

"It is with deep sorrow that we confirm to the nation the death of 251 of our compatriots who had boarded the boat from the Ugandan side of Lake Albert," said Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende Omalanga, adding that "we have managed to have something like 50 people who have escaped."

Congolese authorities are helping to support survivors, while arranging funerals for the dead, he said.


Saturday's disaster happened just days after DR Congo launched a campaign to enforce the wearing of life jackets on all boats on its many waterways.

It is common for boats in both countries to have too few, if any, life jackets on board.

Uganda: 253 refugees perish in boat mishap

More than 250 people died in last Saturday's boat capsize on Lake Albert between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, a minister has said.

This is a sharp increase on the initial death toll, partly a result of the vessel carrying many more passengers than the official capacity of 80.

The boat was taking Congolese refugees in Uganda back to their home country.
Congolese authorities have declared three days of national mourning for the victims of last Saturday's disaster - among whom were many children.

On Tuesday they made up more than half of the then death toll of 107. About 300 people are now thought to have been aboard.

"It is with deep sorrow that we confirm to the nation the death of 251 of our compatriots who had boarded the boat from the Ugandan side of Lake Albert," said Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende Omalanga, adding that "we have managed to have something like 50 people who have escaped."

Congolese authorities are helping to support survivors, while arranging funerals for the dead, he said.

We won’t probe Diezani –Presidency

Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

The Presidency has said that it will not probe the allegations of misappropriation of  public funds levelled against the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told Saturday PUNCH on Friday, that the Federal Government would not set up a probe panel to investigate the minister because the House of Representatives was currently probing her.

Alison-Madueke was alleged to have spent N10bn on a chartered Challenger 850 aircraft in two years for which the House of Representatives is currently probing her.

Okupe said that the Federal Government could not institute a probe panel on matters that had not been substantiated.

Okupe, who spoke to one of our correspondents in a telephone interview in Abuja, on Friday, said since the House of Representatives had started investigating the matter, the right thing to do was to wait for the outcome of such a probe before any further step could be taken.

He said, “The Federal Government cannot set up a probe panel just on things that have not been substantiated as such. The information I have is that the House of Representatives is looking into the matter and they want to invite the honourable minister. Definitely, the right thing is to wait for the outcome of such an interaction before anybody can decide to do anything.”

However, criticisms have trailed the decision of the Presidency not to probe the petroleum minister.

Lagos lawyer and activist, Bamidele Aturu, told Saturday PUNCH in a telephone interview that he would have been shocked if the Presidency had said it would conduct a probe.

He said, “This government does not probe anyone in the first place. Anything goes under this government. Nigerians would have been surprised if the Presidency was willing to take the Allison-Madueke matter any further.

“It has become a stock in trade for the government not to probe any matter. Nobody should be shocked about the government’s stand.

“It is clear that there are sacred cows in this government when you consider what is happening at the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Financial Reporting Council; an organisation which nobody knew anything about and which had been inactive, was suddenly resuscitated to do all sorts of things against the sacked CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi.”

Source: Punch

We won’t probe Diezani –Presidency

Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

The Presidency has said that it will not probe the allegations of misappropriation of  public funds levelled against the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told Saturday PUNCH on Friday, that the Federal Government would not set up a probe panel to investigate the minister because the House of Representatives was currently probing her.

Alison-Madueke was alleged to have spent N10bn on a chartered Challenger 850 aircraft in two years for which the House of Representatives is currently probing her.

Okupe said that the Federal Government could not institute a probe panel on matters that had not been substantiated.

Okupe, who spoke to one of our correspondents in a telephone interview in Abuja, on Friday, said since the House of Representatives had started investigating the matter, the right thing to do was to wait for the outcome of such a probe before any further step could be taken.

He said, “The Federal Government cannot set up a probe panel just on things that have not been substantiated as such. The information I have is that the House of Representatives is looking into the matter and they want to invite the honourable minister. Definitely, the right thing is to wait for the outcome of such an interaction before anybody can decide to do anything.”

20 killed in CAR attack

A grenade attack on a funeral in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, kills 20 people, a government minister says.

The attack happened at around 23:00 on Thursday (22:00 GMT), Public Security Minister Denis Wangao Kizimale was quoted as saying.

Eleven people were injured in the attack, he told AFP news agency. The country has been hit by civil conflict since a rebel group deposed the president in March 2013.

Kizimale told national radio that the attackers were “extremists well known to the police”, according to AFP. Reports from Bangui say that Muslims are being blamed. No group has said it carried out the attack.

The conflict has taken on an increasingly sectarian nature, with UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warning last week that hatred between Christians and Muslims in CAR had reached a “terrifying level”.

The mainly Muslim rebel Seleka movement deposed President Francois Bozize in March 2013 and installed their leader Michel Djotodia as president.

The rebels were accused of targeting Christians and in January Djotodia was in turn forced to step down amid criticism he had not done enough to stem sectarian violence.

Attacks on Muslims have now become a major element of the conflict, with thousands of Muslims fleeing their homes and even the country.

Source: Punch

20 killed in CAR attack

A grenade attack on a funeral in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, kills 20 people, a government minister says.

The attack happened at around 23:00 on Thursday (22:00 GMT), Public Security Minister Denis Wangao Kizimale was quoted as saying.

Eleven people were injured in the attack, he told AFP news agency. The country has been hit by civil conflict since a rebel group deposed the president in March 2013.

Kizimale told national radio that the attackers were “extremists well known to the police”, according to AFP. Reports from Bangui say that Muslims are being blamed. No group has said it carried out the attack.

The conflict has taken on an increasingly sectarian nature, with UN human rights chief Navi Pillay warning last week that hatred between Christians and Muslims in CAR had reached a “terrifying level”.

The mainly Muslim rebel Seleka movement deposed President Francois Bozize in March 2013 and installed their leader Michel Djotodia as president.

The rebels were accused of targeting Christians and in January Djotodia was in turn forced to step down amid criticism he had not done enough to stem sectarian violence.

Attacks on Muslims have now become a major element of the conflict, with thousands of Muslims fleeing their homes and even the country.

Source: Punch

Facebook drones to offer low-cost net access

Facebook has ambitious plans to connect the two-thirds of the world that has no net access, using drones, satellites and lasers. The move was announced on the social media platform by founder Mark Zuckerberg.

It will put it in direct competition with Google, which is planning to deliver net access via balloons. Both of the net giants want to extend their audiences, especially in the developing world.

Details about Facebook's plan were scant but it will include a fleet of solar-powered drones as well as low-earth orbit and geosynchronous satellites. Invisible, infrared laser beams could also be used to boost the speed of the net connections.

Last year Facebook and other technology companies launched internet.org to help bring net access to the huge swathes of the globe that are still not connected. The social network has already teamed up with telecoms operators in the Philippines and Paraguay to double the number of people using the internet in that region.

The plans form part of Facebook's ambitions to extend its reach beyond its 1.2 billion audience, thinks Ovum analyst Mark Little.

Last year Google announced similar plans to develop solar-powered balloons to deliver net access to remote areas of the world. Code-named Project Loon, 30 of the super-pressure balloons were launched in New Zealand in June.

Source: BBC

Facebook drones to offer low-cost net access

Facebook has ambitious plans to connect the two-thirds of the world that has no net access, using drones, satellites and lasers. The move was announced on the social media platform by founder Mark Zuckerberg.

It will put it in direct competition with Google, which is planning to deliver net access via balloons. Both of the net giants want to extend their audiences, especially in the developing world.

Details about Facebook's plan were scant but it will include a fleet of solar-powered drones as well as low-earth orbit and geosynchronous satellites. Invisible, infrared laser beams could also be used to boost the speed of the net connections.

Last year Facebook and other technology companies launched internet.org to help bring net access to the huge swathes of the globe that are still not connected. The social network has already teamed up with telecoms operators in the Philippines and Paraguay to double the number of people using the internet in that region.