Italian coastguard rescue Nigerians, others in Mediterranean

More than 24 African migrants including two young Nigerians drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to reach Europe aboard rickety Libyan boats.

The Weird World gathered that 6,065 others including expectant Nigerian women and their families were rescued by several boats owned by the Italian coastguard and international charities, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The guards saved 417 from the boats. Other survivors, including 92 children and 70 women, were mostly Nigerians and other West Africans.

They overcrowded four small dinghies which eventually broke down about 20 miles from the Libyan coast while attempting to make two-day journey to Italy without adequate fuel.

About 94 of them barely alive – men, women (several pregnant) and children – saturated with fuel, burnt skin and falling from their limbs, were rescued by a ship, Dignity 1, operated by MSF.

The migrants told British newspaper, The Times, that three hours into their journey from Western Libya, they heard a crack as one side of the overcrowded dinghy snapped, throwing 35 people into the sea.

Two brothers aged four and five, they said, tumbled into the sea and were never found, while others grabbed jerry cans of spare fuel to keep them afloat in the water. Some emptied the cans to make them more buoyant thus spreading the fuel on and around those in the water.

MSF rescue teams were alerted at 10:45am and the Dignity 1 was dispatched. It found a broken inflatable with six people missing and many others semi-conscious.

A seven- month pregnant Nigerian woman, Joy, was rescued, coughing and sputtering blood as medical teams tried to save her life, while her semi-conscious sister, Lovett, was covered in vomit and faeces beside her.

Lovett told The Times that she followed Joy into the boat to look after her.

Hurricane Matthew: White House issues urgent warning to residents of Florida

The United States of America’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a warning to residents and tourists of Florida as Hurricane Matthew threatens.

FEMA’s Administrator, Craig Fugate, said in a statement: “We have not seen a hurricane this strong in almost a decade. It has already devastated Haiti, and has been building strength on its way to the US. As it makes landfall in Florida tonight and tracks up the eastern coastline over the coming days, Americans living in its path can expect to see life-threatening hurricane conditions, storm surges, tropical force winds, heavy rains, and all the devastation that that may bring.

Today, President Obama declared a state of emergency in Florida. Evacuations for coastal counties in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are in effect. If you live in these areas, please listen to the directions of your state, tribal, and local officials. If instructed to evacuate, don’t wait. You can always repair and rebuild — and we’ll be here to help you do that. The most important thing you can do is keep you and your family safe.

As a native Floridian, I am intimately aware of the devastation hurricanes can wreak. As the head of FEMA, it is my job to make sure that we do everything we can to prepare our communities for the oncoming storm and ensure that our emergency response efforts are ready to go as soon as we’re needed.

That’s why we’ve deployed teams to emergency operation centers in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia to support preparation activities and ensure that no needs are unmet. We are staffing bases in Albany, Georgia, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina to collect and provide commodities and resources close to affected areas.

As of this morning, there were more than 414,000 liters of water, more than 513,700 meals, more than 8,000 blankets, and more than 20,600 cots in these locations. And more resources are on their way to Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia.

We’re also coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to monitor and inspect the integrity of dams in the area. We’re working with the U.S. Coast Guard to assess and advise on the status of ports. The Department of Health and Human Services has sent emergency medical specialists to Georgia to assist if needed.

Hurricane Matthew has potential for life-threatening rain, wind, and storm surges along our coast. This serves as a reminder for residents in areas at risk and around the nation to refresh their emergency kits and review family plans.

If you do not have an emergency kit or family plan, or if you want to learn about steps you can take now to prepare your family for severe weather, visit ready.gov.

And as you’ve undoubtedly seen, this hurricane has already taken a devastating toll on Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and countries in the Caribbean. We know that many people who didn’t have a lot to begin with have lost almost everything. More than 100 people have lost their lives, and so many more are in need of substantial help.

If you want do what you can to help, please visit the Center for International Disaster Information, www.cidi.org, to find out how you can provide support to people when they need it most.
Here at FEMA, we are hoping for the best but are preparing for the worst.

As we monitor the situation over the next couple of days, you can check back here for the latest information on response efforts.

You can download the FEMA mobile app for shelter information, disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips, in English and in Spanish.”

Hurricane Mathew: Over 136 people killed in Haiti

...death rising

Over 136 people have reportedly died as Haiti was hit by another storm for the second time. The monster storm, Hurricane Matthew, rocked the impoverished island nation on Tuesday killing lives and sending many to scamper for safety. An additional four people were reportedly killed in the neighboring Dominican Republic.

The Category 4 hurricane carried winds reaching 140 mph/220 kph, which devastated the northwestern region of the island chain, Reuters reported. The storm began moving towards the southeastern United States on Thursday, destroying homes and roads throughout the Bahaman capital of Nassau in its path.

According to the Haitian Minister of the Interior, Francois Anick Joseph, over 28,000 homes have been severely damaged while 21,000 people have been displaced. Power and phone lines have been destroyed, completely cutting off victims’ access to electricity and means of communication.

“What we know is that many, many houses have been damaged. Some lost rooftops and they’ll have to be replaced while others were totally destroyed,” he said.

“Everybody’s house is destroyed, the people can’t eat and have to drink coconut water to sustain them,” Les Cayes Senator Francky Exius said to the Miami Herald newspaper. Many of the deaths have been attributed to falling trees and debris and severe flooding.

As the storm approaches the southeastern United States, authorities in Florida have urged 1.5 million people to evacuate their homes, while President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Florida.

“If you’re reluctant to evacuate, just think about all the people…already killed,” said Florida Governor Rick Scott on Thursday. “Time is running out. This is clearly either going to have a direct hit or come right along the coast, and we’re going to have hurricane-force winds.”

At the time of reporting, over 3000 Floridians have been placed in shelters throughout the southern state, according to Reuters.

See leaves that make people run mad

Fresh Khat

Khat is a stimulant flowering shrub growing mainly in the native of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The plant, which is known as Catha edulis contains two alkaloids, namely cathinone and cathine that act as stimulants. When Khat leave is chewed like tobacco, it produces a mild euphoria similar to cocaine and amphetamine. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah has warned of drug trafficking syndicates that are finding ways to smuggle Khat into the country.

Abdallah, while calling on members of the public to be aware of the development, said that the agency is prepared to stop all illegal importation, production and exportation of illicit drugs.

“Drug trafficking cartels are gradually introducing a new stimulant drug into the country but we are prepared to stop them. In the first half of the year 2016, the Agency successfully seized 65.7kg of Khat. We are taking counter narcotic measures calculated at frustrating the activities of drug trafficking organisations. Officers at all border points, airports and seaports are being sensitised on new trends," Abdallah said.

He added that operatives at the Special Investigation Assignment Unit are also working very hard to prevent the use of courier companies in smuggling Khat and other narcotics into the country.

The NDLEA boss urged stakeholders to unite against drug trafficking cartels and work towards a crime free society.

“The support of stakeholders is crucial to the success of the drug war. Drug criminals are only concerned about their monetary gains, we must therefore unite against them” he stated.

The agency arrested four thousand, eight hundred and thirty-eight (4,838) suspected drug traffickers comprising 4,490 males and 348 females within the first half of the year. Drugs weighing 108, 883.52kgs were also seized between January and June. These drugs include cannabis 74,942.47kg, psychotropic substances 33,425.38kg, ephedrine 201.12kg, methamphetamine 179.74kg, cocaine 54.05kg, heroin 15.11kg and amphetamine 0.0138 grammes.

We were forced to kill Biafra protesters, says Nigerian Army

The Nigerian army says it shot pro-Biafran protesters on Monday over “unwarranted attack, breach of peace and creation of wide spread panic, tension and apprehension”.

Sani Usman, deputy director, army public relations, made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Several protesters commemorating the 49th anniversary of the declaration of the defunct Biafra Republic by Odumegwu Ojukwu, were shot across the south-east, resulting to causalities on the side of the military and the protesters.

But Usman justified the action, saying the security agents resorted to rules of engagement as a result of the violent attacks from the activists.

“Due to the wide spread panic, tension and apprehension that generated from the activities of the MASSOB and IPOB members, security agencies which comprised of detachment of Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, Department of State Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were compelled to intervene in consonance with constitutional provisions of aid to civil authority where and when such occasion demands,” the statement read.

“The over arching imperative to ensure a reign of peace, security and stability in this circumstance was most starring.

“The nature of this attack involved brazen employment of various types of fire arms and all sorts of crude weapons, volatile cocktail such as acid and dynamites.

“Instructively, troops of 82 division Nigerian army as the lead agency of the security agents had to invoke the extant Rules of Engagement (ROE) to resort to self defence, protection of the strategic Niger Bridge, prevent re-enforcement of the pro-Biafra members apparently surging ahead from the far side of the strategic Niger Bridge at Onitsha. All these efforts were in order to de-escalate the palpable tension as well as ward off the apparent threats to lives and property in the general area.

“In the aftermath of the fire fight that ensued, many of own troops sustained varying degrees of injury. These injured troops are currently receiving treatment at own medical centre. Similarly, 5 members of MASSOB/IPOB were killed, 8 wounded while 9 were arrested for due legal actions.”

Militants threaten to shut Nigeria’s airspace, ask soldiers to leave Niger Delta

The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC), which claim to be the highest organ of “all the freedom fighting body”, has threatened to shut Nigeria’s airspace, giving soldiers a 48-hour ultimatum to leave the Niger Delta region.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the group threatened to declare full blown war if the military continues its operation in the region.

The group vowed to launch six missiles in the region in the Niger Delta on June 7, accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of plotting to break up Nigeria.

The group said it was fully prepared for the alleged agenda of the president.

Below is the statement

The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) which is the highest organ of all the freedom fighting body has finally endorsed the followings:

1. After extensive and exhaustive deliberation by all Commanders of various groups in Yenagoa, the heart of the Niger Delta struggle met last night and as part of our mission, we are going to test six (6) of our MISSILES in the region. This is to show the federal government of our readiness of the American prediction.
2. There should be NO any form of helicopter to fly around in the region as we will not guarantee the safety of such object.
3. The people of the Niger Delta region should not be panic in course of test running the 6 MISSILES.
4. We may also decide within the week to shut down the Nigerian satellite orbit, so that there will be no communication in the country if needs arise.
5. Within our three (3) days operations, NO airplane should fly out of the country because it can target such object no matter how small or big it may be.
6. Our Fighter Expert Team shall be position in the six (6) Niger Delta states, who are already arrived the region from training through our country’s porous borders with our foreign partners who are going to showcase what they have learnt in past on year.
7. Our struggle is not for any human blood, but we have been pushed to the wall for justice because our patience is running out on daily basis as Nigerian uniform men killing our innocent people continuously.
8. Nigerian military should as a matter of urgency leave peacefully the Ijaw communities they are presently in, the next 48 hours under the guise of searching for the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) or else we should not be blamed of whatever catastrophe that may befall on such officers and the likely affected families of the officers should blame not the region.
9. We have consulted our war gods (deities) that enough is enough and that the time has come. Since the present Pharaoh of Nigeria, President Buhari is to preside over the disintegration of the country it is a good omen.
10. Henceforth, any attack on Ijaw communities or person(s) by the military or para-military body in the region, we will not hesitate to order our shoot-at-sight squad of any uniform personnel in the region.
11. We ask all Service Chiefs including Minister of Defence to shamefully resign their positions because Nigeria has no security in whatever form. Bravo to our Foreign Marine Crack Team for their ability to shut down Nigerian obsolete surveillance equipments.
12. For the records, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) are not in Delta state, we only go there to strike and return back safely to the struggle base, Bayelsa state.
13. We further warn especially Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, Information Commissioner in Bayelsa state not to criticize our activities any longer or else he has a choice of leaving the planet earth anytime he made such statement(s).
14. All oil and gas operations should shut down immediately as our MISSILES testing will affect their equipments.
15. NOTE, we shall commence MISSILES testing on Tuesday 7, June 2016 which coincide with the date of our training abroad. Since the present Pharaoh of Nigeria (Buhari) fails to our demands. We promised Nigerians and the entire world that we are going to surprise them.

Source: The Cable

Nigeria is our biggest business hub in Africa, says British Airways

British Airways has reiterated commitment to the Nigerian aviation market as it said that the country route remains its biggest business hub in Africa.

The airline, in a statement, debunked media reports that it was planning to stop operations to Nigeria over its $100 million trapped in the country.

It said that the airline was misrepresented by the media in some misguiding reports that it had concluded plans to exit the country, stressing that it was not true and the airline never issued any statement to the media indicating such.

The airline said it has a long history in Nigeria as it began operations in the country 80 years ago as Imperial Airways. It maintained that Nigeria remains a strategic market for the airline, adding that its operations locally are very strong.

“We have not issued any statements at any time indicating that we are on the verge of terminating operations in the country. We will continue daily operations into Nigeria,” the airline said.