15 killed in clashes in central Nigeria

At least 15 people were killed over the past few days in separate attacks in central Nigeria's Benue State, the scene of regular clashes between Christian farmers and nomadic cattle herders, official sources said Wednesday.
Suspected militant herders carried out the attacks on several villages in under 48 hours, Benue State information minister Lawrence Onoja said.
The village of Tse Ishav, near Guma, was attacked at around 3am on Wednesday, with militants "leaving behind eight corpses, several missing and many wounded," he said.
It came after two other people were killed on Monday by the same armed men close to the nearby locality of Yelwata, he added.
The head of Guma's local government Anthony Shawon confirmed the death toll of 10, adding that the attackers set fire to houses and farms as they left.
The same militia also carried out further attacks in the neighbouring district of Logo where "five people were killed... and many more wounded," said Onoja.
The head of the local government Richard Nyajo echoed the report, adding that police reinforcements have been deployed.
Benue state has seen a wave of deadly clashes which have left hundreds dead in recent months.
The area lies in the so-called "Middle Belt" between Nigeria's mainly-Christian south and predominantly-Muslim north.

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Scores of migrants drown off Yemen coast

 

The boat was carrying at least 100 Ethiopian migrants when it capsized off Yemen in rough seas. Thousands make the life-threatening journey every month, according to the UN's migration agency.
At least 46 migrants drowned after their boat capsized off the shore of Yemen on Wednesday, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
The dead include 37 men and 9 women, with the 16 missing presumed dead. At least 100 migrants were crammed onto the smuggler's vessel which left the port of Bossau, Somalia on June 5.
According to the IOM, the boat traveled through the night across the Gulf of Aden and approached the shore at 5 a.m. on June 6. All of the passengers on board were Ethiopian nationals.
Tragedy 'hidden in plain sight'
"Survivors said the passengers who were without lifejackets in the smuggler's boat started panicking as high waves struck close to the shore," IOM's statement read. "As the boat took on water, they were pitched headlong into the rough seas where so many succumbed," it continued.
"The Gulf of Aden's shameful migration tragedy is one that is hidden in plain sight," said Mohammed Abdiker, director of IOM's Department of Operations and Emergencies.
"Over 7,000 poor migrants take this perilous journey every month; some 100,000 took it just last year. They are treated appallingly and go through horrendous conditions. This has to end," he added.
Earlier this week IOM helped some 101 Ethiopian migrants to leave Yemen through the port of Hudaydah as violent clashes grew closer to the area.
In 2017, IOM helped about 2,900 migrants and refugees to return home from Yemen: 73 percent were Somalis, 25 percent Ethiopians and 2 percent other nationalities. IOM has also helped 298 Ethiopian and 1,064 Somali migrants and refugees return home voluntarily in 2018.

Suspected killers of 3 policemen in Benue state arrested

The Benue State Police Command has arrested the suspected killers of three officers in a bloody attack on a police station in Igumale, Ado local Government Area of the state on October 2nd.
The suspect include 24-year-old Gabriel Ocheme, also known as Embassy, (pictured) who allegedly led the attack and another member of the gang, Okwori Oko, 25. The gang also carted away many arms and ammunition.  Police Commissioner, Bashir Makama, who briefed newsmen in Makurdi. while parading the suspects along four other criminals, said the police were on the trail of other members of the gang.
"We are trailing other members of the gang and also making concerted efforts to recover the arms the gang carted away from the Igumale Police Station. We discovered that the gang is made up of young men who are sometimes hired as mercenaries to prosecute inter-communal crisis in the state. They are also known for masterminding several highway robberies in the Benue south area of the state, including the attacks on police patrol and stop-and-search teams in the area." said Makama

Nigerian man who was stabbed while trying to sell his BMW car in the US, dies after almost 6 years in the hospital

38 year old Nigerian lawyer, Akeem Olakunle Ajimotokan, who was stabbed in New York, USA on January 20th 2011 while trying to sell his 2008 BMW M3 coupe fully loaded speedster with an eight-cylinder engine and an Interlagos Blue Metallic exterior, died on Sunday October 30th at Methodist Hospital, Sugarland, Texas after he had been in the hospital for nearly 6years.


Ajimotokan who was 33 at the time he was stabbed, had put up his car for sale on the Internet.

He was contacted by a man named Barion A. Blake, an ex-convict with many previous arrests, including for stealing BMWs. Blake at the point of meeting with Ajimotokan, attacked him, stabbed him repeatedly, tied him up and left him unconscious in the boot of his car.

Since then, Ajimotokan had been in a coma. Although it was reported at some point by his brother, Ayo Ajim, that he was moving his hands and legs. He however passed on Sunday October 30th.

According to a statement by his brother, a Remembrance Service will hold on Saturday November 5th by11am at GIC 15401 Bellaire Blvd Houston TX 77083.

He will be buried on same day by 1pm at Sugar land Mortuary. 1818 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

Confused 7 year old girl tells school official she couldn't wake her parents; who died from drug overdose

A couple was found dead after a suspected drug overdose in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, when their seven-year-old daughter reportedly told officials at her school she couldn't wake up her parents and that something was wrong.

Police were called to the couple's home and the bodies of Christopher Dilly, 26 and Jessica Lally, 25, believed to have been dead for a day or two due to a fatal heroin overdose, were found.


Authorities say evidence of drug use was found inside the family's apartment where their bodies were discovered and their other children: a nine-month-old girl, three-year-old boy and five-year-old boy, who were inside the home, have been taken to a hospital to be evaluated.

Back in February, a woman who identified herself as Jessica Lally's sister, Courtney, took to social media to accuse her sister of being a drug addict and keeping her four children in filthy conditions. Lally aired her grievances against her sister and brother in law, revealing that they keep their children in filthy conditions, beat and do not care for them. She also shared photos purportedly taken inside the couple's then-home, showing filthy rooms strewn with piles of garbage, a dirty bathroom with stains on the wall and a broken door hanging off the hinges.

Late Jessica Lally fired back in a series of text messages, accusing her family of spreading lies about her and her boyfriend so they could take away her children. Although the Department of Children and Youth Services took the children once and placed them in the care of their grandmother, she eventually regained custody.

Autopsies will be now conducted on the two adults to determine the exact cause and manner of death.

African woman dies after jumping from condo in Bangkok, British man questioned

An African woman believed to be from Uganda died after jumping from a condo in Bangkok, Thailand in the early hours of Monday morning, October 4th.
 
Police were called to the Suksawat Modern Condoview on Suksawat Road in the Rat Burana district just after 4am. Upon arrival they spoke with a British man, named as Ashley Daniels, 30.

Daniels told officers he was a friend of the woman and that the pair had returned to his room on the 16th floor at around 2am following a night out. He said both he and the woman were sleeping when she got a call on her mobile phone. After spending several minutes arguing on the phone, the woman suddenly got out of bed and jumped from the bedroom window to her death.

Security guards told officers that Mr Daniels told them of the incident around 4am, when he ran out of the condominium building and jumped into the nearby klong where the woman’s body lay.
 
Daily News reports Mr Daniels works as a teacher at Panyasak School and that the woman had visited him at his condo on at least two separate occasions.
 
Police are continuing to investigate the incident.The woman’s body has been sent to Siriraj Hospital for autopsy.



Source: Daily News

Comedian Basketmouth loses mum

Comedian Basketmouth's mum passed away last night October 3rd after a brief illness. The comedian shared the sad news on his IG page

"Last night my angel left me, my first love stopped breathing and it's the deepest pain I've ever felt. I love you for every sacrifice you made to make me the man I am today, I've loved you through the tough times. I've loved you through happier days and all I can say at this point is that I will love you forever. I will miss you mummy". - May her soul rest in peace Amen.

Serving corps member drowns in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Dayo, a member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC drowned on August 27th after he accidentally slipped of a boat while boarding a jetty to the community where he was serving. His body was found two days later floating in the river. The deceased was laid to rest on Friday, Sept 2nd.

A Facebook user shared the photos along with a tribute. What she wrote below:"Corper Dayo was someone who didn't say more than 100 words in a day. Corper Dayo was someone who never looked for trouble. Corper Dayo was someone who smiled in French Corper Dayo was someone who always seeked the face of God.We the Isaka, Port Harcourt corp members sadly bid farewell to our friend who was one of us but lost his life last week Saturday.
Corper Dayo crossed the river to have a haircut in preparation for the next day (Sunday service) but unfortunately did no make it back to us after his haircut because he reached the island and accidentally slipped off the boat as he was trying to climb up the jetty leading to the community where we stay. We cried our eyes out in prayers begging God to rescue him while the searcher swept the river. Unfortunately according to the wish of God, he was only found two days after floating in the river. Corper Dayo was finally laid to rest on 2/09/2016.
We say may his soul rest in perfect peace. AMEN
I also use this medium to urge our fellow corpers who are posted in riverine area to be very careful and also put on your life jackets no matter how small the river may be"

Earthquake hit Amatrice

Part of the Italian town of Amatrice is seen in ruins after an earthquake with an initial magnitude of 6.2 and a series of powerful aftershocks rocked the country's central region early on Wednesday. More than three dozen were killed, officials said, and the death toll was expected to rise as civilians and rescue workers continue to search the rubble. The mayor of Amatrice, Sergio Pirozzi, told the Associated Press "the town isn’t here anymore." Photograph by Gregorio Borgia—@ap.images

Manager/Producer who discovered N'SYNC Lou Pearlman and Backstreet Boys dies in prison at age 62

Lou Pearlman, the controversial producer/manager who discovered boybands, Backstreet Boys and N’SYNC, died over the weekend in prison at the age of 62.

Lou put the hit boyband together in the ’90s and became a huge success in the music industry before he was jailed for committing fraud.

Tributes have poured in from artists who worked with him over the years including N’SYNC’s Lance Bass.

Apart from N'SYNC and Backstreet boys, the acts he formed over the years included O-Town, LFO and Take 5, and he also managed artists including Aaron Carter and Jordan Knight.
However, by the 2000s, he was facing numerous lawsuits from his artists over claims he had swindled them out of their earnings.With the exception of US5, all of the musical acts who have worked with Pearlman have sued him in Federal Court for misrepresentation and fraud- Backstreet boys were the first to sue him. In 2006, he was accused of running one of the largest and longest-running Ponzi schemes in history, leaving more than $300 million in debts. After he was arrested and arraigned in court, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy, money laundering, and making false statements during a bankruptcy proceeding. In 2008, he was convicted and sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. He died in prison over the weekend.

Marion Barry Jnr, son of former Washington D.C mayor, dies from drug overdose at 36

Marion Christopher Barry Jnr, son of a late Washington D.C. mayor, has died after a drug overdose. The only son of Marion Barry Snr, who served as mayor of Washington, D.C, from 1979 to 1990, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on August 13th. Although no official cause of death has been announced, family members revealed to the Press that it was a fatal overdose of drugs.

Marion Barry Snr's career as a civil rights leader and prominent politician was tarnished after he was caught smoking crack in a downtown Washington hotel room with a young woman in 1990. That  however didn't stop him from returning to politics, before passing away in 2014 at the age of 78.

Unfortunately, his son also struggled with drug abuse and was unsuccessful while trying to also pursue a political career. Cora Masters Barry, wife of the former mayor, issued a statement which read,

'Christopher's sudden death has been devastating news to me. My heart is broken. I am in shock. The news of his death is beyond comprehension. I would like to thank everyone for their concern and support. I would also like to send my condolences to Mrs. Polly Lee Harris, Christopher's grandmother, for the loss of her only grandchild.'

36 year old man and his wife found dead on their farmland in Ebonyi

A 36 year old man, Chijioke Ani and his wife have been found dead on their farmland in Mgbaleze Isu community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State last weekend. While Ani was found dangling from a tree, his wife was found seriously battered in a manner locals suspected to be murder.

According to the state police spokesperson, George Okafor, it is believed that Ani killed his wife and afterwards killed himself

“Yes, it is true that the couple died at the farm but I am thinking that may be one thing led to another and the man killed his wife and hanged himself because the area is peaceful, no any dispute in the community,” he told Premium Times.A local chief, Sylvanus Ani, who spoke on the incident said

"Both of them went to the farm and did not return home. At a time everyone was disturbed so we informed other villagers that helped and mobilized themselves and went in search of them and finally found the wife, Ngozi Chijioke, lying dead in her pool of blood with marks of violence all over her body while Chijioke Ani was found hanging on a tree’’. Further investigation by the police is ongoing.

Former Aston Villa footballer dies after being teasered by Police

Former Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson has died after being tasered by police in Telford, Shropshire. The 48-year-old died 90 minutes after he was hit by a stun gun on Monday morning August 15, at around 1.30am in the Trench area of Telford, Shropshire.
West Mercia Police can confirm that officers responded to a report for the concern for the safety of an individual at approximately 1.30am this morning at an address in Telford," the force said in a statement.
"Upon arrival Taser was deployed and a 48-year-old man, who subsequently received medical attention, was pronounced dead at approximately 3am. West Mercia Police are unable to comment any further as the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as is normal procedure, and will assist the IPCC with their inquiries."
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said Atkinson was being taken to Princess Royal Hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving the medical facility.
"We were called by West Mercia Police to an address in Meadow Close in the Trench area of Telford at about 1.45am this morning. An ambulance was dispatched and upon arrival found a man who had been Tasered. As he was being conveyed to Princess Royal Hospital, his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of the crew and hospital staff, it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead at hospital, shortly after arrival."
Former team-mate Tony Daley, who played for Aston Villa at the same time as Mr Atkinson, tweeted: "Devastating news...RIP Dalian" with an image of a broken heart.
Another former player, Ian Taylor, said: "Just heard news re my old team mate Dalian. Deepest condolences to his family. Only spoke to him last week as well. Sad sad news
Atkinson was a top flight striker in the 1990s, with a goal for league runners-up Aston Villa against Wimbledon. He went on to score at Wembley in 1994 as Villa beat Manchester United to lift the League Cup. Atkinson ended his career playing in South Korea in 2001.
Source: The Independent

Police in Canada shoot dead terror suspect during an anti-terror operation

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) today shot dead a suspect in an anti-terror operation in the Canadian province of Ontario, according to several media reports.

Canadian media reports say police had raided a property in Strathroy, about 225km (140 miles) south-west of Toronto and the 'terrorist suspect' named as Aaron Driver, 24, was arrested last year for openly supporting ISIS on social media.



RCMP said in a statement it had received "credible information of a potential terrorist threat".
"A suspect was identified and the proper course of action has been taken to ensure that there is no danger to the public's safety," it added.

"As this is still an unfolding matter and the investigation is still under way, we are not able to provide further comment at this time."
According to CTV network, his alleged plan was to use a homemade bomb to create mass casualties.

Driver, a Muslim convert, came to the authorities' attention in 2014 for tweeting in support of IS, using the alias Harun Abdourahman.
He was taken into custody and interrogated by police in July 2015 over concerns he would become involved in planning an attack.

Aaron was not charged, but released on bail and had to wear a GPS ankle bracelet and undergo religious counselling.
Aaron's family have confirmed his death.

Source: BBC

Parents blast Iraqi government after 11 premature babies die from hospital fire outbreak

At least 11 premature babies have been killed after fire engulfed a hospital in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, hospital and police officials say.
The fire which broke out late on Tuesday inside the maternity unit at the Yarmouk Hospital was extinguished after three hours, but that wasn't fast enough to save the 11 premature babies while 7 other children and 29 women had to be moved to nearby hospitals.
Their Ministry of Health has blamed an electrical fault for the calamity but that didn't stop family members who lost their children and loved ones from blasting the government. Hussein Omar, a 30-year-old builder, told the Associated Press;
"I only found charred pieces of flesh, I want my baby boy and girl back. The government must give them back to me."Eshrak Ahmed Jaasar, 41, who was unable to find her four-day-old nephew.
"I came early this morning to see my nephew and his mother, but they told me about the fire," she told AP. My nephew is still missing and his mother was moved to another hospital ward."He added:
"We pay the hospital employees thousands of Iraqi dinars to allow us in to get our loved ones basic food and milk, which they cannot provide. It's a corrupt government that doesn't care about its citizens and lets this happen."

Nasarawa Accountant General passes on

The Nasarawa State Accountant General and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Muhammed Darda'u has died. The state government announced his death this morning. May his soul rest in peace Amen.

Former Miss Jamaica Universe, Shakira Martin passes away from sickle cell disease at age 30

Shakira Martin, Former Miss Jamaica Universe is dead. The 30 year old beauty died on Wednesday August 3rd at Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines from blood clots on both lungs and complications of sickle cell anemia she had since birth, According to Jamaican Observer who reported her death;

'Former Miss Jamaica Universe Shakira Martin died at a hospital in Florida last night due to complications with the sickle cell disease. She was 30 years old.

'Martin’s mother, Andrea Hall, confirmed her death in a social media post earlier today. “My darling princess Shakira Aminah passed away at 12:28am from complications from sickle cell blood clots to both lungs” she said. “Shakira was a fighter, lived her life in the moment, never became a slave to her disease. I will (keep) you posted with all the arrangements which will be both in Florida and Jamaica her favorite place in the whole world. Thanks for your support, prayers, phone calls, texts,” she added in her Facebook post.

50 year old Chinese national commits suicide in Lagos

A 50-year-old Chinese national identified as Si Guicai, committed suicide at his home in Itohan Avenue, Ikeja area of Lagos on Friday July 29th. Guicai allegedly hanged himself to the iron window of his apartment at 9:00 p.m. The reason behind his action is not yet known.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Lagos state police command, Dolapo Badmos said “One Si Guicai, a Chinese, allegedly hanged himself to the iron window in his room. A team of policemen attached to Man-centre division visited, examined and photographed the scene, while corpse was removed and deposited at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja morgue for autopsy while investigation is ongoing.”‎

28 year old housewife is sentenced to death in Delta state by hanging for stabbing her husband to death and setting his boby ablaze

A 28 year-old housewife, Mary Attah has been condemned to death by hanging by an Effurun High Court for stabbing her Pastor husband, Darlington Attah, with a kitchen knife and setting him ablaze. Prosecution from the Delta State Ministry of Justice had told the Court that the accused who was married to Darlington Attah (now deceased) with four children, on or about the 6th day of July, 2012 at Effurun within the Effurun Judicial Division did attack her husband with a kitchen knife and stabbed him in the neck as a result of an alleged phone call from the husband’s lover. The Court was further told that the accused was infuriated by the telephone call at a time they were having a ‘nice time’ which prompted her to rush to the kitchen, collected the knife and armed herself with grounded pepper which she rubbed on her husband’s face to immobilize him before stabbing him in the neck. Not satisfied, she doused the husband who was already weak as a result of excessive bleeding with fuel and set him ablaze. He later gave up the ghost at the Warri Central Hospital where he was rushed to where Medical Doctors efforts to save his life failed. The Court sentenced the 28 years old mother of four to death having been pronounced guilty of the one count charge proffered against her by the Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The offence is punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap C21, Volume 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006. eJustice Oritsjafor of the Effurun High Court while delivering the death verdict held that prosecution led by an Assistant Director, Patrick Mekako was able to prove beyond all reasonable doubt the essential ingredients of the offence of murder against the accused person. “I must also add that the evidence before this Court do not and cannot support the plea of self defense in favour of the accused person. I agree with the learned Assistant Director for the Prosecution that there is just no possible defence to avail the accused person when she stabbed her deceased husband in the neck with a knife and thereafter doused him with fuel before she struck the match on him was to kill the deceased or do him grievous bodily harm. The law is trite that a man intends the natural consequences of his act.” Justice Oritsjafor held. Continuing “from the evidence before this Court and in particular the extrajudicial statement of the accused person, Exhibit A and the evidence of PW1 and PW2 which corroborates and is consistent with the facts contained in the said extrajudicial statement Exhibit A, I hold that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person murdered her deceased husband on or about the 6th day of July, 2012, and I find the accused person guilty of the murder of Darlington Attah as charged. Accused person is accordingly, hereby convicted of the offence of murder. The sentence of this Court upon you, Mary Attah is death by hanging by the neck till you be dead and may the Lord have mercy on your soul."

They electrocuted my genitals; says Nigerian man on death row in Indonesia prison who is facing execution within days

A Nigerian man who is facing execution in Indonesia within days tearfully told a court that police electrocuted his genitals to force him to confess to possessing heroin. Michael Titus Igweh, a clothe importer is among several prisoners on death row whom lawyers and human rights groups are frantically lobbying to save from the firing squad amid claims they were tortured and their legal cases riddled with corruption, errors and miscarriages of justice.   "I was constantly beaten, and my genitals electrocuted until I was helpless," the clothes importer, who was sentenced to death in 2003 for possessing 5.8 kilograms of heroin, told the Tangerang District Court. "In fact, I was threatened to be shot." The third wave of executions in Indonesia could be held within days. It is understood the Nigerian and Pakistani embassies have now been notified that their nationals are among those to be killed Indonesian Attorney-General Muhammad Prasetyo reiterated on Friday, July 22, the executions would be "soon" and would include Indonesians and possibly a woman. Mr Prasetyo had earlier said prisoners from Nigeria and Zimbabwe would be among those targeted. Indonesian human rights group Imparsial said an anti-death penalty coalition would present the staff of Indonesian President Joko Widodo with a list of about seven death row prisoners who had faced unfair trials and miscarriages of justice. "It is very dangerous to carry out executions when the legal system is fragile and riddled with corruption, error, manipulation and collusion," Imparsial executive director Al Araf said. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court last week rejected an application for a case review into the case of Mr Igweh. His lawyer, Sitor Situmorang, told Fairfax Media that Supreme Court judges should try cases based on the law and not to achieve popularity or appear tough. "We accepted Michael's case because we saw it had merit. Out of the many requests from prisoners on Nusakambangan, we only took this," Mr Sitor said. He said Mr Igweh's conviction was based on the testimony of two alleged accomplices, Marlena and Izuchukwu Okoloaja, who died in police custody and could therefore not testify in court. "We believe Marlena and Okoloaja gave Michael's name just so the police would stop torturing them," he said. "They were healthy when they were arrested, they had no history of illness, they all just suddenly died while in police custody. We all know what that means." In a further ominous sign the executions could be just days away, prison visits have this week been suspended to the penal island of Nusakambangan, where the prisoners will be strapped to wooden posts and shot in a field. Fourteen drug offenders were executed in Indonesia last year, including Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, sparking an international backlash.However the Indonesian government insists executions are necessary to combat a so-called drugs emergency. "The public want it to be done soon," Attorney-General Prasetyo said on Friday. "We are getting more informed now and can see how drugs have affected our younger generation. We could just lose a generation." Source: Fairfax Media/SMH