OTTOBRE 2010

NIGERIA 1/10/2010
SCUOLABUS SEQUESTRATO: BLITZ DELLA POLIZIA, LIBERI I BAMBINI

Nigeria: attentati a parata, almeno 7 morti ad Abuja
ANSA 01 ottobre, 2010

NIGERIA 1/10/2010
ABUJA: DOPO ATTENTATI, BILANCI E PRIME RIVENDICAZIONI

NIGERIA 1/10/2010
ABUJA: INCIDENTI, MA CELEBRAZIONI CONTINUANO

NIGERIA 4/10/2010
ATTENTATI ABUJA: SI SEGUE PISTA STRANIERA, UN ARRESTO IN SUDAFRICA

NIGERIA 4/10/2010
ALLUVIONI, UNA TESTIMONIANZA DALLO STATO DI JIGAWA

NIGERIA 4/10/2010
ATTENTATI ABUJA (2): INCRIMINATO UN EX-DIRIGENTE DEL MEND

Nigeria sospesa dalla Fifa

Nigeria, morti oltre 400 bambini
TGCOM, 5/10/2010

NIGERIA 7/10/2010
ZAMFARA: SI ESTENDE CONTAMINAZIONE PIOMBO, PIOGGE COMPLICANO INTERVENTI

NIGERIA: ARRESTATI PRESUNTI RAPITORI, ANCHE PRETE CATTOLICO
16 ottobre 2010, Repubblica

NIGERIA 26/10/2010
“GRAND AMERICA”, NUOVO CASO PER LA PATTUMIERA AFRICANA

Nigeria, oltre 1.500 vittime del colera da inizio anno
PeaceReporter 25/10/2010

Nigeria, pubblicata una lista con i nomi di cento politici corrotti
PeaceReporter 26/10/2010

NIGERIA 27/10/2010
DELTA DEL NIGER, COPRIFUOCO DOPO SCONTRI TRA COMUNITÀ

NIGERIA 28/10/2010
LAGOS, SU SEQUESTRO DI ARMI SOLO IPOTESI

NIGERIA 30/10/2010
TENSIONI A PORT HARCOURT

Nigeria at 50: What does Naija mean?
BBC, 1/10/2010

Preaching non-violence to Nigerian militants
BBC, 1/10/2010

Nigerian police names suspects in Abuja car bombings
BBC, 3/10/2010

Henry Okah charged in South Africa over Nigeria bombs
BBC, 4/10/2010

Nigeria secret service 'foiled earlier Abuja bomb plot'
BBC, 5/10/2010

Fifa issues world ban to Nigeria
BBC SPORT, 5/10/2010

Who are Nigeria's Mend oil militants?
BBC, 5/10/2010

Ex-Mend leader implicates Nigeria
AlJazeera 5/10/2010

Nigeria's Babangida aide arrest condemned
BBC, 5/10/2010

Nigeria Boko Haram sect 'shoots two in Maiduguri'
BBC, 7/10/2010

Former Nigeria bank CEO Cecilia Ibru jailed for fraud
BBC, 9/10/2010

Nigeria's Dokpesi sues secret police over bomb arrest
BBC, 13/10/2010

Commonwealth Games 2010: Third Nigerian tests positive
BBC SPORT, 15/10/2010

Brother of Nigeria militant Henry Okah arrested
BBC, 17/10/2010

Nigeria probes disappearance of 'toxic waste' ship
BBC, 20/10/2010

Nigeria militant's brother charged at 'secret hearing'
BBC, 21/10/2010

Nigeria court rejects 'forced marriage' case
BBC, 22/10/2010

Nigeria fraud blacklist issued by police
BBC, 25/10/2010

Africa viewpoint: Nollywood and religion
BBC, 26/10/2010

Nigeria curfew after deadly village clashes
BBC, 26/10/2010

Nigeria's secret police intercept weapons shipment
BBC, 27/10/2010

Nigeria rapped for mass evictions
BBC, 28/10/2010

Nigerian leaders urge calm after ethnic violence flares
BBC, 30/10/2010

NIGERIA  1/10/2010
SCUOLABUS SEQUESTRATO: BLITZ DELLA POLIZIA, LIBERI I BAMBINI

Sono stati liberati i 15 bambini sequestrati lunedì alla periferia di Aba, nella regione meridionale del Delta del Niger, mentre erano a bordo di uno scuolabus: lo hanno detto oggi responsabili della polizia locale, protagonista nella notte di un blitz condotto insieme con unità dell’esercito. A fornire i dettagli dell’operazione è stato Jonathan Johnson, commissario di polizia dello Stato di Abia. Secondo la sua ricostruzione, i 15 alunni della “Abayi International School” sono stati liberati nella foresta di Ogwe-Asa, una zona selvaggia nel cuore dello stato. Alla vicenda i quotidiani nigeriani dedicavano ampi articoli ancora questa mattina, nel giorno del 50° anniversario della Nigeria. “This Day”, per esempio, scriveva dell’“agonia dei genitori” e della clima di paura e insicurezza alimentato ad Aba dal rapimento. A intervenire nella vicenda era stato anche il presidente Goodluck Jonathan, chiedendo il rilascio immediato dei bambini e definendo il sequestro “un crimine crudele e odioso". (MISNA)

Nigeria: attentati a parata, almeno 7 morti ad Abuja

ANSA 1 ottobre 2010

Otto persone sono morte e tre sono rimaste ferite negli attentati di oggi ad Abuja, capitale della Nigeria in concomitanza con le celebrazioni per i 50 anni dell'indipendenza dal dominio coloniale britannico. E' l'ultimo bilancio delle vittime delle due esplosioni di questa mattina, confermato dalla polizia citata da fonti di stampa locale. "Due autobomba sono esplose - ha raccontato Jimoh Moshood, portavoce della polizia di Abuja, citato da 'The Nigerian Inquirer' - e otto persone sono morte". Le deflagrazioni hanno distrutto tre automobili, esattamente un'ora dopo che il movimento dei ribelli del Mend aveva annunciato di avere piazzato alcuni esplosivi vicino al luogo dove si sarebbe tenuta la parata militare alla presenza delle massime autorità dello Stato e di varie delegazioni straniere.

In mattinata il Movimento per l'Emancipazione del delta del Niger (Mend) aveva annunciato di aver piazzato numerosi ordigni esplosivi alla parata per il 50/0 anniversario dell'indipendenza nella capitale Abuja. La minaccia era contenuta in una mail del portavoce del Mend Jomo Gbomo, giunta all'Ansa, nella quale si chiede di evacuare l'intera zona. Il gruppo colpisce con attacchi, attentati e sequestri le installazioni petrolifere, in nome della ridistribuzione degli introiti dello sfruttamento degli idrocarburi fra le poverissime popolazioni locali obbligando le compagnie a rallentare la produzione e a spendere denaro ed energie per le misure di sicurezza.

NIGERIA 1/10/2010

ABUJA: DOPO ATTENTATI, BILANCI E PRIME RIVENDICAZIONI

Non è ancora chiaro il bilancio causato dall’esplosione di due ordigni (probabilmente nascosti all’interno di automobili) mentre ad Abuja erano in corso le celebrazioni per il 50° anniversario dell’indipendenza, ma prime stime indicano otto vittime e alcuni feriti gravi; fonti della MISNA raggiunte sul posto hanno fornito bilanci più pesanti, precisando che numerose automobili sono andate distrutte e che le esplosioni sono avvenute proprio nell’area dove erano in corso le manifestazioni, nei pressi di ‘Eagle Square’, la piazza nel centro della capitale dove decine di capi di Stato stavano assistendo a una parata militare. Gli attentati sarebbero stati rivendicati dal Movimento per l’emancipazione del Delta del Niger (Mend). Il principale tra i gruppi ribelli che operano in questa regione del Sud, cuore petrolifero della Nigeria, aveva già diffuso una nota in mattinata minacciando attentanti e ne ha poi diffuso una seconda assumendosi la responsabilità delle esplosioni di Abuja. La veridicità delle rivendicazioni, affidate a una nota giunta a diverse redazioni giornalistiche, non è altrimenti verificabile. In prime dichiarazioni, il presidente nigeriano Goodluck Jonathan ha detto che “le esplosioni avvenute nei pressi del ministero della Giustizia, causando diverse vittime, sono un atto infame e codardo operato da criminali e assassini che non vogliono il bene del paese”. In un momento in cui si celebravano i 50 anni di indipendenza della Nigeria, ha aggiunto Jonathan, “queste bombe costituiscono il peggior ‘dono’ di anniversario che una nazione possa ricevere… e se il proposito era quello di bloccare le celebrazioni, il risultato è stato triste e sfortunato” (MISNA)

NIGERIA 1/10/2010

ABUJA: INCIDENTI, MA CELEBRAZIONI CONTINUANO

Nonostante alcuni incidenti, forse l'esplosione di due autobomba, ad Abuja le celebrazioni per il 50° anniversario dell’indipendenza continuano: lo conferma alla MISNA un giornalista che si trova a “Eagle Square”, la piazza nel centro della capitale dove decine di capi di Stato stanno assistendo a una parata militare. Secondo la ricostruzione di un ufficiale di polizia, ripresa da diverse fonti di stampa internazionali, la detonazione delle autobomba avrebbe provocato sette vittime di fronte alla sede dell’Alta corte della Nigeria, a pochi passi da “Eagle Square". Almeno per ora, però, fonti della MISNA contattate anche presso l'arcidiocesi di Abuja non confermano. “La piazza è stracolma – dice Malathy Cuzendu, un cronista giunto ad Abuja dall’est della Nigeria - e le manifestazioni vanno avanti secondo il programma”. Il giornalista riferisce però di un aver udito un colpo d’arma da fuoco in una zona laterale di “Eagle Square”, provocata sembra dall'errore di un poliziotto. In mattinata una certa tensione era stata alimentata dalla diffusione di una nota del Movimento per l’emancipazione del Delta del Niger (Mend), il principale tra i gruppi ribelli che operano in questa regione del Sud, il cuore petrolifero della Nigeria. Nel comunicato si minacciava di organizzare attentati dinamitardi durante le celebrazioni per il cinquantenario in segno di protesta contro il "furto della terra e delle risorse naturali" del Delta da parte del governo federale. (MISNA)

NIGERIA 4/10/2010

ATTENTATI ABUJA: SI SEGUE PISTA STRANIERA, UN ARRESTO IN SUDAFRICA

Ci sarebbe una mano straniera con contatti all’interno della Nigeria dietro il doppio attentato che lo scorso Venerdì ha causato la morte di 12 persone ad Abuja, mentre erano in corso le celebrazioni per il 50° anniversario dell’indipendenza del paese. A sostenerlo è il presidente Goodluck Jonathan che ieri ha visitato i feriti ricoverati in alcuni ospedali della capitale. In una nota diffusa dal suo ufficio, Jonathan ha anche escluso la pista che porta al Movimento per l’emancipazione del Delta del Niger (Mend). Comunicati attribuiti al Mend avevano minacciato e poi rivendicato gli attentati di Abuja, ma secondo Goodluck “alcune persone hanno semplicemente usato il nome del Mend per camuffare un atto criminale e terroristico” che nulla a che fare con il principale tra i gruppi ribelli attivi nelle regioni meridionali ricche di petrolio e che lo scorso anno ha beneficiato di una amnistia presidenziale in cambio della consegna delle armi e dell’apertura di un processo negoziale. Secondo il capo dello Stato le autorità incaricate dell’inchiesta sono già al corrente della vera identità dei responsabili degli attentati e sono sulle loro tracce. Sui luoghi degli attentati oggi è prevista una visita di rappresentanti del Mend che, secondo fonti di stampa nigeriane, dovrebbero diffondere una nota per sottolineare la propria estraneità ai fatti. Sabato, in relazione agli attentati di Abuja, in Sudafrica è stato arrestato Henry Okah, ex esponente del Mend che tramite il suo avvocato ha però detto di “essere estraneo a qualunque crimine commesso in Sudafrica o altrove”. Sconcerto per gli attentati è stato espresso da monsignor Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, arcivescovo di Abuja. In dichiarazioni rilasciate all’agenzia di stampa Fides, l’arcivescovo ha detto di essere “triste per la perdita di queste vite umane e allo stesso tempo preoccupato perché siamo di fronte ad un fatto nuovo, mai verificatosi prima nella nostra storia, di un duplice attentato nella capitale federale”. (MISNA)

NIGERIA 4/10/2010

ALLUVIONI, UNA TESTIMONIANZA DALLO STATO DI JIGAWA

Un “disastro” che ha causato la “devastazione” di villaggi e quartieri: un gruppo di esperti inviato dalla diocesi di Kano ha definito in questi termini le alluvioni delle ultime settimane nel vicino Stato di Jigawa, nord profondo che guarda al Niger e al Sahel. In un rapporto inviato alla MISNA dai responsabili della Commissione pace, sviluppo e giustizia della diocesi si prende in considerazione soprattutto il caso di Jahun, una città circa 250 chilometri a est di Kano. “Le alluvioni hanno danneggiato o fatto crollare più di 200 case – scrivono gli esperti - costringendo gli abitanti a cercare rifugio da parenti o amici”. Nel rapporto si sostiene che l’emergenza umanitaria è stata aggravata da errori nella gestione di due dighe sul fiume Hadejia. Ma il problema di fondo, sostengono gli esperti, è che la regione è una depressione circondata da paludi. Un dato di fatto che, almeno per ora, non ha spinto il governo federale ad adottare misure incisive. “Manca un buon sistema di drenaggio – si sottolinea nel rapporto – e ogni volta che piove si allaga tutto”. La settimana scorsa dirigenti della Croce Rossa nigeriana hanno raccontato alla MISNA che in altre due città dello Stato, Marakawa e Sintilmawa, migliaia di persone hanno trovato rifugio in campi per sfollati ed edifici scolastici. Difficile, almeno per ora, fare stime attendibili sul numero complessivo delle vittime o delle persone costrette a lasciare le loro case. Giorni fa il governatore di Jigawa ha parlato di due milioni di sfollati, ma questa cifra non è stata confermata alla MISNA né dalla Croce Rossa né dall’arcivescovo di Kano, monsignor John Niyiring. Tra Agosto e Settembre le piogge sono state molto superiori alla media stagionale in diverse regioni del nord della Nigeria: non solo nello Stato di Jigawa ma anche in quelli di Sokoto, al confine con il Benin, e di Kebbi, sul versante meridionale della frontiera con il Niger.(MISNA)

NIGERIA 4/10/2010

ATTENTATI ABUJA (2): INCRIMINATO UN EX-DIRIGENTE DEL MEND

E’ stato rinviato a giudizio con le accuse di “attività terroristica” e di “possesso o utilizzo di materiale esplosivo” Henry Okah, l’ex-dirigente del Movimento per l’emancipazione del Delta del Niger (Mend) arrestato in Sudafrica in relazione agli attentati dinamitardi di Abuja. Secondo l’agenzia di stampa sudafricana Sapa, la prima udienza del processo si terrà il 14 Ottobre presso il Tribunale di Johannesburg. Dopo la formalizzazione delle accuse, i legali di Okah hanno ribadito che il loro cliente si proclama innocente. Arrestato in Angola nel 2007 per possesso illegale di armi, l’ex-dirigente del Mend aveva beneficiato l’anno scorso di un’amnistia concessa dal governo nigeriano ai militanti ribelli disposti a deporre le armi. Dopo il rilascio, però, Okah si era trasferito in Sudafrica ed era apparso tornare su posizioni intransigenti. Ieri alti funzionari della polizia di Abuja hanno ipotizzato un coinvolgimento negli attentati di altri due cittadini nigeriani, Chima Orlu e Ben Jessy, senza fornire però dettagli ulteriori.(MISNA)

Nigeria sospesa dalla Fifa

Incredibile scelta della Fifa, che decide di sospendere la Federazione calcistica della Nigeria dal calcio internazionale con effetto immediato. Le motivazioni per cui la Fifa abbia preso questa decisione, sono riconducibili a causa delle interferenze del governo locale sulla stessa Federazione.

"Il Comitato d'Emergenza della FIFA ha deciso di sospendere con effetto immediato - si legge nel comunicato ufficiale - la FederCalcio nigeriana a seguito delle interferenze governative che l'hanno coinvolta. La sospensione rimarrà tale fino a quando queste interferenze non spariranno. Durante il periodo di sospensione la FederCalcio nigeriana non potrà essere rappresentata da alcuna squadra a livello regionale, continentale o internazionale, nemmeno in partite amichevoli".

Dopo il Mondiale, il governo nigeriano aveva minacciato di ritirare la squadra per due anni a causa della magra figura rimediata in Sud Africa, e proprio allora la Fifa aveva fatto sapere che solo la FederCalcio aveva l'esclusività di poter prendere decisioni di questo tipo. La prima conseguenza di questa sospensione, è la cancellazione del match tra Nigeria e Guinea, partita valida per le qualificazioni della prossima Coppa d'Africa.

Sportal.Tv 4/10/2010

Nigeria, morti oltre 400 bambini

Msf: avvelenati da piombo

Oltre 400 bambini sono morti negli ultimi sei mesi nel nord della Nigeria per avvelenamento da piombo. Un responsabile dell'organizzazione Medici senza frontiere, El Shafii Muhammed Ahmad, ha denunciato l'ennesima tragedia che ha colpito il Paese africano precisando però che è probabile che "le cifre siano molto più elevate". L'Onu ha stimato che circa 18mila persone potrebbero essere rimaste contaminate.

TGCOM, 5/10/2010

NIGERIA 7/10/2010

ZAMFARA: SI ESTENDE CONTAMINAZIONE PIOMBO, PIOGGE COMPLICANO INTERVENTI

"In altri due villaggi abbiamo riscontrato casi di avvelenamento al piombo: in tutto sono nove i centri abitati coinvolti. Avanzare un bilancio preciso è tuttavia molto difficile visto che le ricerche sono ancora in corso, che non tutti i decessi ci vengono segnalati e che spesso la contaminazione aggrava lo stato di salute di persone già malate, ad esempio di malaria" dice alla MISNA Lauren Cooney, dirigente della gestione emergenze dell'organizzazione non governativa 'Medici senza frontiere' (Msf), confermando che l’emergenza per avvelenamento da metalli pesanti (piombo e mercurio, utilizzati nell’estrazione dell’oro) in corso da Marzo nello stato settentrionale di Zamfara è tutt’altro che rientrata. In base agli ultimi dati diffusi dal ministero della Sanità nigeriano sono state registrate almeno 163 vittime, di cui 111 bambini, mentre la scorsa settimana una missione svolta a Zamfara dall’Ufficio di coordinamento umanitario dell’Onu (Ocha) aveva segnalato almeno 200 bambini deceduti e circa 18.000 persone contaminate. Finora 500 bambini sono stati sottoposti a cure adeguate, insieme a madri in fase di allattamento e alcuni adulti in fin di vita, nei due centri sanitari allestiti da 'Msf' (che insieme all’Oms e al ministero della Sanità nigeriano sta gestendo la situazione) a Bukkuyum e Anka, i villaggi dove per prima si è registrata l’emergenza. "Urge ripulire accuratamente tutti i villaggi inquinati per evitare che i pazienti vengano nuovamente esposti al piombo – prosegue la Cooney – con elevati rischi di contaminazione quindi di decesso visto che la stessa terapia applicata per la seconda volta si è dimostrata inefficace". A complicare gli interventi di decontaminazione di località molto isolate, che prevedono la rimozione della terra, sono le intense piogge che dal mese di Agosto hanno portato all'interruzione delle attività svolte dalla società statunitense 'Terra Graphics'. Motivo per cui i piccoli pazienti vengono trattenuti più a lungo negli ospedali o alloggiati in villaggi che non sono quelli nativi in attesa degli interventi di decontaminazione. La situazione è resa ulteriormente precaria e rischiosa per la salute umana alla luce delle prime conclusioni degli esperti Ocha che hanno riscontrato più casi di inquinamento con metalli 'pesanti' di pozzi pubblici e privati, in un fiume locale ma anche una forte concentrazione di mercurio nell'aria (più di 5000 nanogrammi al metro cubo invece dei 50 consentiti) nel villaggio di Bagega. "Respirato in forte concentrazione il mercurio può creare danni al sistema nervoso, all'apparato digerente e ai reni ma anche indebolire il sistema immunitario" dice alla MISNA la portavoce dell'Ocha, Elisabeth Byrs, precisando che sono in corso le analisi dei campioni prelevati dagli esperti Onu che comunicheranno le proprie conclusioni a fine mese.(MISNA)

NIGERIA: ARRESTATI PRESUNTI RAPITORI, ANCHE PRETE CATTOLICO

Dal primo ottobre l'esercito nigeriano ha arrestato 100 sospetti rapitori tra cui un sacerdote cattolico. Teatro dell'operazione lo Stato sudorientale di Abia nella regione petrolifera del Delta del Niger. Tra gli arrestati anche un prete di 41 anni nel villaggio di Umuezi-Mgboko anche se le prove a suo carico sembrano piuttosto deboli: la polizia ha trovato nella sua auto, nei pressi di un campo abbandonato dai sequestratori, cinque bossoli. La diocesi di Abia per tramite padre Kelechi Anyanwu ha confermato l'arresto senza aggiungere ulteriori particolari .

16 ottobre 2010, Repubblica

NIGERIA 26/10/2010

“GRAND AMERICA”, NUOVO CASO PER LA PATTUMIERA AFRICANA

Montagne di tastiere e schermi rotti, vecchi computer, persino televisioni in bianco e nero. È questo il misterioso carico che la “Grand America” ha lasciato sulla banchina di Tin Can Island prima di ripartire verso nord, nella notte tra sabato 16 e domenica 17 ottobre. Dell’ispezione di quei sette container lasciati in porto con il permesso di chissà chi racconta alla MISNA Sule Oyofo, un dirigente della “Nigerian Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Nesrea)”. È un organismo nato alla fine degli anni ’80, dopo uno dei casi più tragici e clamorosi nella storia della pattumiera africana: sulla spiaggia di Koko, nel cuore del Delta del Niger, erano state lasciate 3500 tonnellate di rifiuti tossici dell’industria “made in Italy”. Alla MISNA dicono che questa volta, almeno, c’è stata una multa. Non per la “Grand America”, ripartita con il favore della notte e forse la complicità di qualche funzionario, ma per la “MV Veradin”, un cargo arrivato sulle coste della Nigeria meridionale da New York dopo aver fatto scalo in Spagna. Anche in questo caso il carico era illegale e pericoloso sia per la salute umana che per l’ambiente. Nei container c’erano i tubi catodici con il piombo e l’arsenico e c’erano i vecchi pc con il mercurio, il nickel e il cadmio. Sono gli stessi veleni che nel 2005 avevano spinto a una prima denuncia Basel Action Network (Ban), un’organizzazione non governativa con sede negli Stati Uniti che si batte per il rispetto della Convenzione di Basilea contro il traffico di rifiuti pericolosi. “In un solo mese – ricorda Jim Puckett, il direttore di questa ong – nello Stato di Lagos arrivarono 400 container di spazzatura elettronica, quasi tutti provenienti da Nord America ed Europa”. La logica di questo commercio è semplice: nei paesi ricchi rottamare un computer costa, mentre se lo si porta in Nigeria, Ghana o Camerun si fanno soldi a palate e magari pure beneficenza. “I veri colpevoli – sostiene Puckett - sono gli esportatori: incassano tariffe milionarie per il servizio, ‘esternalizzando’ costi umani e danni ambientali”. Paradosso nel paradosso, questi traffici sono spesso giustificati con l’esigenza di ridurre il “divario digitale” che taglia il mondo in due. Come dire, ti do computer di seconda mano per aiutarti, ma poi eludo i controlli e i cargo li riempio di spazzatura elettronica. A porre un freno si è provato più volte, nel 1989 con la Convenzione di Basilea che chiede condanne penali per i trafficanti e nel 1995 con un divieto sull’esportazione dei rifiuti pericolosi recepito anche dall’Unione Europea (UE). Ma gli Stati Uniti, il primo paese al mondo per consumo di tecnologie, non hanno mai firmato la Convenzione. “Poi – aggiunge Puckett – c’è il problema dei controlli: nei grandi scali, da Rotterdam a Lagos, verificare tutti i carichi in partenza e in arrivo è impossibile sia per le società navali che per le autorità portuali”.(MISNA)

Nigeria, oltre 1.500 vittime del colera da inizio anno

Secondo quanto dichiarato dall'Unicef all'Ansa più di 1.500 persone sarebbero morte di colera dall'inizio dell'anno. Una cifra molto alta. Come alto è il numero dei contagiati, oltre 40 mila.

"I dati relativi al 2010 dimostrano un aumento considerevole dei casi, triplicati rispetto allo scorso anno e sette volte maggiori rispetto al 2008" si legge nella nota dell'Unicef.

Secondo la Croce Rossa più dell'80 percento delle persone contagiate sarebbero donne e bambini.

La zona del Paese più colpita è quella di nord-est dove l'abbondanza delle piogge, la mancanza d'igiene e di acqua potabile hanno di fatto scatenato l'epidemia.

PeaceReporter 25/10/2010

Nigeria, pubblicata una lista con i nomi di cento politici corrotti

La polizia ha pubblicato oggi in Nigeria una lista di cento politici accusati di corruzione.

Nel documento anche governatori e ministri indagati per malversazione e frode. Lo hanno reso noto i principali quotidiani del Paese che hanno pubblicato la lista stilata dalla Commissione per i crimini economici e finanziari.

È stato poi lanciato un appello ai partiti politici affinché non ricandidino più le persone presenti nella lista alle elezioni del 2011. Tra questi nomi c'è anche "l'ex governatore dello Stato di Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, in corsa per le presidenziali del prossimo anno. Nell'elenco compaiono anche tredici ex governatori, cinque ex ministri, tre membri della Camera e due senatori", si legge nel comunicato. "La Commissione invita i partiti politici a selezione e a candidare solo personalità politiche pulite e che non si trovano nella blacklist". Secondo la Commissione ci sono "prove evidenti" di corruzione emerse dal monitoraggio dei conti bancari dei politici.

PeaceReporter 26/10/2010

NIGERIA 27/10/2010

DELTA DEL NIGER, COPRIFUOCO DOPO SCONTRI TRA COMUNITÀ

È stato imposto il coprifuoco notturno nei villaggi dello Stato sud-orientale di Cross River teatro di scontri tra due comunità che nei giorni scorsi hanno causato almeno 30 vittime: lo scrivono oggi i principali quotidiani della Nigeria, secondo i quali all’origine delle violenze c’è il conflitto sul controllo di un appezzamento di terra. Gli scontri sono avvenuti nel distretto di Boki e hanno contrapposto gli abitanti delle comunità di Boje e Nsadop. Il governatore dello Stato, Kiyel Imoke, ha ricordato che episodi del genere si erano già verificati in passato nonostante le autorità avessero demarcato i confini delle terre delle due comunità proprio nel tentativo di ridurre i motivi di contrasto. Secondo alcune fonti giornalistiche, nel villaggio di Nsadop sarebbe stato bruciato il 90% delle abitazioni. In relazione alle violenze dei giorni scorsi è stata avviata un’inchiesta giudiziaria. Lo Stato di Cross River confina a est con il Camerun ed è parte della regione petrolifera del Delta del Niger.(MISNA)

NIGERIA 28/10/2010

LAGOS, SU SEQUESTRO DI ARMI SOLO IPOTESI

Ragioni di carattere politico-diplomatico spingono a non rivelare la provenienza del carico di armi sequestrato Martedì nel porto di Lagos: lo ha sostenuto la portavoce dei Servizi di sicurezza Marilyn Ogar, mentre la stampa nigeriana e internazionale continua ad avanzare dubbi e ipotesi tutte da verificare. Secondo la responsabile, a bordo di una nave che avrebbe dovuto trasportare materiali da costruzione sono stati scoperti lanciamissili, bombe a mano e molti tipi di munizioni, anche razzi con un diametro di 107 millimetri. Alcuni quotidiani nigeriani hanno scritto che il sequestro è stato possibile dopo la denuncia da parte di alcuni ufficiali della dogana di un tentativo di corruzione. Nel piano dei trafficanti, questa la tesi, lo scarico delle armi sarebbe dovuto avvenire in un terminale dove i controlli sono di norma meno frequenti. Tutto è ancora da capire sulla provenienza e la destinazione del carico. Fonti locali della MISNA non escludono in via di principio un nesso con gli attentati che il 1° ottobre, nel giorno del 50° anniversario dell’indipendenza della Nigeria, hanno provocato ad Abuja 12 vittime. Alcuni giornali stranieri ipotizzano scenari diversi, nei quali il porto di Lagos sarebbe solo una tappa intermedia di un traffico intercontinentale. Ad azzardare una possibilità del genere è anche il quotidiano israeliano Haaretz, che cita fonti anonime del ministero della Difesa di Tel Aviv. Secondo questa versione, il carico sarebbe partito dall’Iran e avrebbe dovuto raggiungere la Striscia di Gaza, bypassando i controlli americani sul Mar Rosso. (MISNA)

NIGERIA 30/10/2010

TENSIONI A PORT HARCOURT

Circa 200.000 persone potrebbero rimanere senza casa per le demolizioni previste da un piano di sviluppo urbanistico a Port Harcourt, la metropoli del Delta del Niger: lo sostiene l’organizzazione non governativa Amnesty International.(MISNA)

Nigeria at 50: What does Naija mean?

The word Naija aptly captures the variety of emotions I feel for my country, especially as it celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence.

We Nigerians are confident people - proud of our culture and identity, industrious, hard-working, ingenious and great survivors.

Let's face it, we need to be resilient - Nigeria can be extremely frustrating, annoying and inefficient.

But an optimistic outlook on life makes it a place where anything and everything is possible.

No wonder a survey once found that Nigerians are the happiest people in the world - we have a great capacity for laughing at ourselves.

Whether things are going well or whether it seems the world is about to come to an end, "Naija!" -also written 9ja - expresses it all.

It is about the food, the flamboyant dressing, the mannerisms, the boisterous - some say loud - interaction among complete strangers who on meeting immediately feel bonded by their "Naija-ness".

Like your family, you love them and you hate them at the same time.

You love them so much you would die for them, and yet you get so exasperated at the way they drive you up the wall.

And for the young, the word has entered their slang - spreading rapidly through social networking sites and through music.

'A hook and a jab'

My Nigerian colleague Peter Okwoche says this is because Naija denotes a new beginning or dawn for Nigeria.

"The word was coined by the country's youth as a way of distancing themselves from the old guard who they blame for Nigeria's woes," he says.

"Nigeria has a bad image abroad but the youth want the world to know that change is happening from inside the country."

And Naija is a word we Nigerians guard jealously.

We are most particular about how its pronunciation.

It must be punchy - both syllables should be emphasised but with a hook for the "Nai" and jab for the "ja".

Then you know you are in with the crowd. You are accepted. You are trusted.

BBC, 1/10/2010

Preaching non-violence to Nigerian militants

A number of people have been killed in explosions in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, as the country celebrated 50 years since independence. Earlier, a militant group from the Niger Delta had threatened to target the festivities. An amnesty that came into effect in the Delta last year has reduced unrest in the region. But the BBC's Caroline Duffield saw both progress and tensions when she visited a rehabilitation camp for former militants.

Behind barbed wire in a disused military compound, close to 1,000 young men loll about under trees in the late afternoon sunshine in Obubra camp, south-eastern Nigeria.

Wrestling, bellowing and swapping cigarettes, they seem oblivious to the gaze of watchtowers and heavily armed soldiers.

A matter of months ago, all were members of rival gangs, fighting Nigeria's military and killing one another in the creeks of the Niger Delta.

They now eat, wash and sleep alongside one another in cramped dormitories.

''We have cases here of those who have killed another's families, someone who has killed the other's father,'' says Allen Onyema, of the Foundation for the Ethnic Harmony of Nigeria, which runs the camp.

''But what we are teaching them all is that violence is bankrupt," he told the BBC.

'Say sorry'

Last year, tens of thousands of militants dumped their guns as part of an official amnesty - an attempt by Nigeria's government to stabilise oil production and end rampant kidnapping by militant groups.

The process purchased a fragile calm in the Delta, although many experts dismiss it as a merely temporary lull in the violence.

But inside the camp, the young men cherish hopes of a better future, and hold their trainers, who include visiting US academics, in awe.

"I feel like shedding tears," says Nathaniel Dokubo. "I think about the blood that was shed, the innocent chief who was kidnapped and killed."

Mr Dokubo joined others from his village to fight when his chief was murdered in a dispute between rival communities.

"Those of them we fought, those of them we killed, those of them who we made their families helpless and homeless - I want to say sorry," he says.

Capt Charles Alphin, a non-violence expert leading a team of specialists from the US, is trying to persuade the former militants that it is wrong to take up arms.

"We expose them to Martin Luther King's writings and teaching on their very first night. We capture their hearts," he said.

A former activist in the US civil rights movement, Capt Alphin and his team expose the youths to classroom discussions, lectures and role plays.

For many, it is their first time in a classroom.

"Within in a couple of days, we see a tremendous change," he says.

"At first, we see a young man full of fear. They think it's another trick, they're used to being tricked.

"But they listen. What we've found is that Dr King's teachings are global and universal."

Broken promises?

Critics of the amnesty process argue that the training is all too brief - two weeks in all - and the class sizes too large to really work.

As many as 2,000 young men are trained over the two-week period, after which they return home.

Their next step is supposed to be going to skill acquisition centres to learn trades such as welding and car mechanics.

But those centres promised by the government have not yet appeared.

And some critics question the logic of teaching Martin Luther King's philosophy to these ex-militants without the context of the Delta's intertwined problems of corruption, environmental degradation, and lack of development.

Over a three-day visit to the camp, it was clear that anxiety over the future bubbles beneath the surface.

Heart Bernard, a young veteran calling himself Commander Zero - and others - say they are not receiving small financial benefits they were promised.

''I was a ruffian," he says, warning that he cannot completely change.

"I cannot go back from what I have learned.

"But we are angry. We want the government to do what they promised.

"They are passing our money through our leaders. But our leaders are not delivering what was promised to us," he insists, furiously.

Another young man agrees, refusing to give his name.

"I want to change, but I need a living," he says.

"If Nigeria cannot take care of us, we will go back to our bad lives again."

''These teenagers have a crucial role,'' says Mr Onyema, pointing out that what the young men have learned is a first step.

''This 20,000 could form the critical mass that we badly need. The next 50 years could be very different for Nigeria.

BBC, 1/10/2010

Nigerian police names suspects in Abuja car bombings

Nigerian police have named two men suspected of organising car bombings which killed at least 12 people in Abuja on Friday.

The police said Chima Orlu and Ben Jessy were Nigerian but gave no further details about the men.

President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier blamed "a small terrorist group that resides outside Nigeria" for the blast.

His comments cast doubts on an earlier claim of responsibility by the militant group Mend.

A statement, claiming to speak for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), had claimed responsibility for the bombings during celebrations in the capital on the 50th anniversary of independence.

The group apparently sent a warning shortly before the blasts, saying "several explosive devices have been successfully planted in and around the venue by our operatives working inside the government security services".

A former leader of the militant group, Henry Okah, has been arrested in South Africa in connection with the bombings.

Mr Okah told the BBC on Friday that his group, which says it is fighting for a fairer distribution of Nigeria's oil wealth, was not responsible.

Mr Okah is expected to be appear in court in Johannesburg on Monday.

However, on Sunday President Jonathan said in a statement that investigations had shown that members of Mend said "they know nothing" about claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Senior commanders in the group, who are abiding by a ceasefire with the government, have told the BBC they condemn the bombs.

In the ceasefire agreement signed last year, former fighters were offered an amnesty and small amounts of cash in return for handing in their weapons.

The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says that Mr Okah is believed to lead a tiny faction of Mend that is opposed to the amnesty.

Some Mend commanders are infuriated that what they see as a tiny, violent faction apparently claims to speak for the whole group, our correspondent says.

BBC, 3/10/2010

Henry Okah charged in South Africa over Nigeria bombs

Oil militant Henry Okah has been charged in South Africa in connection with Friday's bomb attack in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

Mr Okah, who was arrested in Johannesburg on Saturday, has denied links to the blasts.

At least 12 people were killed in the car bombings which came as Nigeria marked 50 years of independence.

Mr Okah is believed to lead a militant faction opposed to a government amnesty for the oil-producing Niger Delta.

He told the BBC on Friday that his group was not responsible for the car bombings.

He was charged with engaging in terrorist activity and delivering or detonating explosives.

Prosecutors described him as the mastermind of the Abuja bombings.

On Sunday, Nigerian police named two Nigerian men - Chima Orlu and Ben Jessy - as suspects in the case but gave no further details about them.

Notorious

Mr Okah was not asked to plead and said nothing in court except to greet his lawyers.

His defence says he is innocent and say they will file an urgent appeal for him to be released on grounds of unlawful arrest.

He has been remanded in police custody until his next appearance on 14 October.

Henry Okah

* Grew up in wealthy Lagos family

* 1990s: Sold guns in Lagos

* 2003: Moved to South Africa

* Seen as man behind Mend's media-savvy e-mail strategy

* 2007: Arrested on gun-running charges in Angola

* 2008: Extradited to Nigeria

* 2009: Freed under amnesty the day after Mend staged first attack on Lagos

* 2010: Charged in South Africa over Abuja car bombing

The prosecution and defence are discussing whether he should be held at a more secure prison while he awaits his next appearance - the talks are ongoing.

The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says Mr Okah has barely been heard of outside Nigeria, but within the country, he is notorious.

He has lived in South Africa since 2003 and returned there last year when he was released from almost two years in detention.

He was arrested on gun-running charges in Angola in 2007 and then transferred to Nigeria but never convicted.

He was released under an amnesty but has since denounced it.

His group is believed to have split from the main Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) which signed an agreement with the government last year to end years of unrest in the oil-producing Niger Delta region.

Former fighters were offered an amnesty and small amounts of cash in return for handing in their weapons.

Mend says it is fighting so that more of Nigeria's massive oil wealth is used to benefit the Niger Delta area which produces the oil.

But criminal gangs have taken advantage of the region's instability to make money from ransoms paid by oil companies, and stealing oil.

Before the amnesty, attacks on foreign oil workers and installations had cut Nigeria's oil output by up to 20%.

Nigeria is one of Africa's biggest oil producers but most of its population lives on less than $1 (63p) a day.

BBC, 4/10/2010

Nigeria secret service 'foiled earlier Abuja bomb plot'

Nigeria's intelligence agency says it foiled plans to attack Abuja's administrative centre just days before last week's deadly car bombings.

The State Security Service (SSS) said there were plans to detonate at least six car bombs on 29 September.

At least 12 people were killed in Friday's attacks in Abuja, as Nigeria marked 50 years of independence.

Police have questioned a top aide to one of President Goodluck Jonathan's main election rivals over the bombings.

People in Abuja were stunned over the detention of Raymond Dokpesi, says the BBC's Nigeria correspondent Caroline Duffield.

He owns the Africa Independent Television network and recently became the chief of staff to the former military leader, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Gen Babangida is running against Mr Jonathan for the candidacy of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) in next year's presidential election.

Sources in the presidency say text messages found on the mobile phone of a suspect in the Abuja bombings link Mr Dokpesi to Henry Okah, the main suspect in the attack.

He was charged on Monday in South Africa over the bombings. Prosecutors described him as the mastermind of the Abuja bombings.

Mr Okah, who now lives in South Africa, is believed to lead a militant faction opposed to a government amnesty for the oil-producing Niger Delta.

He told the BBC on Friday that his group was not responsible for the car bombings but he was not asked to plead in court in South Africa.

'Three Arms Zone'

The SSS has arrested nine people in connection with the attack, and all allegedly have links to Mr Okah, SSS spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar told a news conference on Monday.

Henry Okah

* Grew up in wealthy Lagos family

* 1990s: Sold guns in Lagos

* 2003: Moved to South Africa

* Seen as man behind Mend's media-savvy e-mail strategy

* 2007: Arrested on gun-running charges in Angola

* 2008: Extradited to Nigeria

* 2009: Freed under amnesty the day after Mend staged first attack on Lagos

* 2010: Charged in South Africa over Abuja car bombing

"The despicable act of terrorism which eventually took place on 1 October was planned for Wednesday 29 September but was foiled as soon as information was received during the early hours of 28 September," she said.

She said the agency had intelligence "that the Three Arms Zone was to be bombed and six vehicles had already been prepared for the purpose".

The Three Arms Zone in central Abuja houses the presidential palace, parliament, the Supreme Court and also the SSS headquarters.

The spokeswoman added that the main aim of the plotters was "to scare foreign visitors from attending the 50th anniversary celebrations".

Amnesty

Mr Okah's group is believed to have split from the main Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), which signed an agreement with the government last year to end years of unrest in the Niger Delta.

An e-mail purportedly sent by Mend said it had carried out the attack.

Former fighters were offered an amnesty and small amounts of cash in return for handing in their weapons.

Mend says it is fighting so that more of Nigeria's massive oil wealth is used to benefit the Niger Delta area which produces the oil.

BBC, 5/10/2010

Fifa issues world ban to Nigeria

Fifa has suspended Nigeria from international competition because of government interference in the sport.

The decision was taken on Monday after several members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were hauled before the law courts.

Fifa rules prohibit any government intervention with its members.

"The Fifa Emergency Committee decided today...to suspend the NFF with immediate effect on account of government interference," Fifa said.

"During the period of suspension, the NFF will not be able to be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, and also not in friendly matches," the Fifa statement added.

Nigeria's ban from international football leaves their weekend's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea in Conakry in doubt.

The world governing body said the ban follows a bid by Nigeria's Minister of Sports to restart the league without relegations from the previous season.

The decision by the Nigeria Sports Commission to force the NFF's secretary-general Musa Amadu to stand down from his position did not go down well with Fifa.

A court action barring the newly-elected members of the NFF also drew the ire of the world governing body.

The NFF board led by Aminu Maigari has not been able to operate because a Lagos High Court ruled that the elections that brought him to power in August were null and void.

A group known as the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) dragged the newly-elected board of the NFF to court for allegedly defying a court not to proceed with the polls of 26 August.

Subsequently, Nigerian Fifa committee member executive Amos Adamu, NFF president Maigari, his vice-president, Mike Umeh as well as acting secretary-general of the NFF, Musa Amadu were hauled before the court.

The NFF has been dogged by controversies since the team's elimination in the first round of the World Cup in South Africa in June

BBC SPORT, 5/10/2010

Who are Nigeria's Mend oil militants?

By Caroline Duffield BBC News, Lagos

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) is a loose web of armed groups in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region.

These gangs have spent years kidnapping oil workers, attacking oil fields, blowing up pipelines and fighting Nigeria's army.

Niger Delta politicians originally created the gangs - by arming young men to use as their private armies and to rig elections.

But later, the young men began to turn the guns on the government, and oil companies, organising into a militant movement, under the banner Mend.

Mending their ways?

* Formed out of previous militant groups in 2006

* Send regular e-mails to media

* Split into several factions

* Most leaders accepted amnesty

* 1 October attack first in Abuja

* Based in creeks of Niger Delta

* Want oil wealth to remain in Delta

They demand that the Delta receive more benefits from its oil, with a fairer share of the wealth invested in roads, schools, hospitals, clean water and power supply.

The Delta is impoverished - in spite of five decades of oil extraction.

But Mend's gangs also run criminal rackets - kidnapping civilians for ransom, and making billions of dollars by stealing crude oil from pipelines.

In the past, they have cut Nigeria's oil production by one-third - causing spikes in the global oil price.

The group was successful, partly because of a sophisticated media strategy.

A shadowy figure, who signed himself "Jomo Gbomo", creates headlines by sending journalists dramatic e-mails - either promising attacks, or denouncing Nigeria's government.

Some security experts believed "Jomo Gbomo" to be Henry Okah, until he was imprisoned, accused of gun-running.

Their authorship today is unclear.

But at present, the Mend web is split.

Nearly all the senior commanders in the field - and their foot soldiers - have accepted an amnesty, and are observing a ceasefire.

One small faction has not. That group is presumed to be behind the Abuja car bombs.

That faction continues to send e-mails to the media - claiming to speak for the whole of Mend - to the irritation of the senior figures on ceasefire.

BBC, 5/10/2010

Ex-Mend leader implicates Nigeria

Henry Okah tells Al Jazeera presidential aide wanted him to tell armed group to withdraw claim for Abuja deadly blasts.

The former leader of Nigeria's armed group has said he was arrested because he refused to tell the group to retract a statement claiming responsibility for last week's deadly attacks in the capital, Abuja.

Henry Okah, currently being held in jail in South Africa, told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that he received a phone call from a "close associate" of Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian president, telling him to urge the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) to withdraw its claim for the bombings, which killed at least 10 people and left 36 others injured on the 50th anniversay of Nigeria's independence.

"On Saturday morning, just a day after the attack, a very close associate of President Jonathan called me and explained to me that there had been a bombing in Nigeria and that President Jonathan wanted me to reach out to the group, Mend, and get them to retract the earlier statement they had issued claiming the attacks," Okah said.

"They wanted to blame the attacks on northerners who are trying to fight against him [Jonathan] to come back as president and if this was done, I was not going to have any problems with the South African government.

"I declined to do this and a few hours later I was arrested. It was based on their belief that I was going to do that that Jonathan issued a statement saying that Mend did not carry out the attack."

'Unpatriotic elements'

Jonathan, who hails from the country's south and has declared his intentions to stand in next year's presidential election, said investigations had revealed Mend, which is fighting for a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth, knew nothing about the attacks.

He said the bombings had been carried out by a small group based outside Nigeria, sponsored by "unpatriotic elements within the country".

Nigeria will be holding elections in January almost a year after Jonathan assumed the presidency after the incumbent president failed to complete his term due to illness and eventual death.

Jonathan's predecessor, Umaru Yaradua, came from the northern state of Katsina and Nigeria has an unwritten agreement for the presidency to alternate between the mainly Muslim north and the largely Christian south.

Al Jazeera did not get any immediate reaction from the Nigerian government about Okah's claims.

Meanwhile, the authorities have released nine people they arrested in connection with the bomb blasts on Monday, including an aide for Ibrahim Babangida, the country's former military leader.

Raymond Dokpesi, the director of Babandida's campaign to become the ruling party presidential candidate, was questioned by the country's intelligence services over the blasts, an aide said on Tuesday.

Dokpesi, who also owns one of Nigeria's leading television and radio stations, was summoned to the State Security Services (SSS) on Monday, Kassim Afegbua, a spokesman for Babangida, told the AFP news agency.

"He was released yesterday and is to report back today at about 3'oclock (1400 GMT)," Afegbua said.

"They said it is to do with complicity in the bomb incident of  October 1."

Several media reports on Tuesday said text messages found on the mobile phone of one of the nine suspects arrested by the state  secret police led to the summoning of Dokpesi.

AlJazeera 5/10/2010

Nigeria's Babangida aide arrest condemned

A spokesman for Nigeria's former military ruler Gen Ibrahim Babangida has condemned the arrest of one of his aides over Friday's Abuja car bombings.

The detention of media mogul Raymond Dokpesi was "frivolous", Kassim Afegbua told the BBC.

Gen Babangida is running against President Goodluck Jonathan to be the governing party's presidential candidate in polls next year.

Officials say Mr Dokpesi had exchanged text messages with a key bomb suspect.

Messages from Henry Okah were found on Mr Dokpesi's phone, according to sources in the presidency.

Mr Okah has been charged in South Africa with terrorism in connection with the blasts, which killed at least 12 people, as Nigeria was marking 50 years of independence from the UK.

Mr Dokpesi is one of nine people arrested by Nigeria's security services over the attack.

The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says people in Abuja were stunned over his detention.

'Witch-hunt'

He owns the Africa Independent Television network and recently became Gen Babangida's chief of staff.

Mr Afegbua told the AFP news agency the arrest was a "political witch-hunt".

Mend oil militants

* Formed out of previous militant groups in 2006

* Send regular e-mails to media

* Split into several factions

* Most leaders accepted amnesty

* 1 October attack first in Abuja

* Based in creeks of Niger Delta

* Want oil wealth to remain in Delta 

He was released without charge but is expected to be questioned again later on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Mr Okah has been given his own cell in South Africa after expressing fears his life might be in danger.

He has denied any links to the blasts, but an e-mail purportedly sent by the militant group he once headed has said it had carried out the attacks.

If confirmed, this would be the first time Nigeria's oil militants have struck in the capital.

Nigeria's intelligence agency says it foiled an attempt to stage attacks in Abuja earlier last week.

South African prosecutors have described Mr Okah as the mastermind of the attack.

Mr Okah, who now lives in South Africa, is believed to lead a militant faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), opposed to a government amnesty for the oil-producing Niger Delta.

Most Mend commanders have joined the amnesty, set up to end years of unrest in the region which cut Nigeria's oil output by up to 20%.

Mend says it is fighting so that more of Nigeria's massive oil wealth is used to benefit the Niger Delta area which produces the oil.

But many criminal gangs also operate in the region, stealing oil and kidnapping people for ransom.

BBC, 5/10/2010

Nigeria Boko Haram sect 'shoots two in Maiduguri'

Two people have been shot dead in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri in the latest attacks blamed on the Boko Haram sect.

A senior opposition politician and a policeman were both killed by gunmen on motorcycles, police say.

Fifteen people, including 10 police officers, have now been killed in recent weeks.

Clashes between Boko Haram and the police in July 2009 left hundreds dead.

The army has been deployed to the city and motorbikes banned at night in a bid to stop the attacks.

But last month, hundreds of people suspected of being Boko Haram members escaped after gunmen attacked the prison where they were being held in the city.

The BBC's Bilkisu Babangida in Maiduguri says no-one has been arrested for the ride-by shootings since they began in August.

She says Alhaji Awana Ngala was a senior figure in the opposition All Nigeria People's Party and was also related by marriage to the governor of Borno state.

The policeman was shot outside the house of the speaker of the state's legislature. A number of other people were wounded in the attack.

She says the city's residents are afraid of more shootings, even though Boko Haram have made it clear they are targeting the police and politicians.

The violence started last year when Boko Haram members attacked a police station in Maiduguri before clashes spread to neighbouring areas.

Most of those who died were supporters of the sect, which is also known locally as the Taliban and wants to see Islamic law imposed across Nigeria.

It is opposed to Western education and accuses Nigeria's government of being corrupted by Western ideas.

The sect's leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was among those killed, apparently after he was handed over alive to the police.

BBC, 7/10/2010

Former Nigeria bank CEO Cecilia Ibru jailed for fraud

A former Nigerian bank chief has been sentenced to six months in prison for fraud and ordered to hand over $1.2bn (£786m) in cash and assets.

Cecilia Ibru, former CEO of Oceanic Bank, pleaded guilty to three of 25 counts of fraud and mismanagement.

She is one of a large number of executives held in connection with the near-collapse of nine banks in 2009.

The verdict is sending shockwaves through Nigeria's financial world, says the BBC's Caroline Duffield in Abuja.

'Making progress'

Mrs Ibru's sentence was the result of a settlement agreement, Judge Dan Abutu told the court in Lagos on Friday.

Her three sentences are for six months each, but will run concurrently. This means she will spend only six months in jail, our correspondent says.

"This is an indication that we are making progress in the war against graft in the country," Farida Waziri, who heads Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, said in a statement.

The government removed Mrs Ibru along with other executives from a number of financial institutions in 2009.

The central bank then had to step in and bail out nine banks which were on the brink of collapse because of reckless lending and fraud.

Mrs Ibru belongs to an elite family, which controls massive business interests across the country. She was famous on Nigeria's party circuit for her jewellery and her taste for corporate jets, our correspondent says.
Until her arrest, the former banker had been considered beyond the reach of the fraud police, our correspondent adds.

However, critics say too few cases are still being prosecuted.

BBC, 9/10/2010

Nigeria's Dokpesi sues secret police over bomb arrest

Nigerian media mogul Raymond Dokpesi has lodged a lawsuit against the secret police over his arrest in connection with the Independence Day Abuja bombings.

Mr Dokpesi, election campaign chief to a rival of the president in elections due next year, wants 100m naira ($660,000; £410,000) in damages.

He was one of nine people arrested in Nigeria over the twin car-bombings which killed at least 12 people.

He says the arrest was "malicious".

Mr Dokpesi was freed at least nine hours after being detained on 4 October - three days after the bombing.

He owns the Africa Independent Television network, one of Nigeria's biggest, and is running the campaign of former military ruler Gen Ibrahim Babangida.

Gen Babangida is challenging President Goodluck Jonathan for the right to become Nigeria's governing party's presidential candidate.

On Monday, another candidate for the People's Democratic Party nomination - the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar - called for an international inquiry into the 1 October bombings to ensure the investigations were not manipulated for political reasons.

Mend oil militants

* Formed out of previous militant groups in 2006

* Send regular e-mails to media

* Split into several factions

* Most leaders accepted amnesty

* 1 October attack first in Abuja

* Based in creeks of Niger Delta

* Want oil wealth to remain in Delta

When Mr Dokpesi was arrested, officials said he had exchanged text messages with the alleged mastermind of the bombing, Henry Okah, who has been charged with terrorism offences in South Africa, where he is based.

Mr Okah is a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), which is fighting for more control of Nigeria's oil wealth for residents of the oil-producing Delta region.

He has denied any links to the blasts, but an e-mail purportedly sent by Mend said it had carried out the attacks.

If confirmed, this would be the first time Nigeria's oil militants have struck in the capital.

Mr Okah is believed to lead a militant Mend faction opposed to a government amnesty.

Most Mend commanders have joined the amnesty, set up to end years of unrest in the region which cut Nigeria's oil output by up to 20%.

While Mend says it is a political group, many criminal gangs also operate in the region, stealing oil and kidnapping people for ransom.

BBC, 13/10/2010

Commonwealth Games 2010: Third Nigerian tests positive

England's women's 4x400m Commonwealth Games relay squad have been promoted to silver after Nigeria's Folashade Abugan failed a drugs test in Delhi.

Abugan, who was a part of the Nigerian quartet, has also been stripped of the silver medal she won in the 400m.

Her team-mates Damola Osayemi, who had won the women's 100m, and 110m hurdler Samuel Okon previously failed tests.

Abugan, who tested positive for testosterone prohormone, waived the right to have her B sample analysed.

India won the 4x400m relay race with English quartet Kelly Massey, Victoria Barr, Meghan Beesley and Nadine Okyere finishing third. Canada, who were fourth, are promoted to the bronze medal.

In the 400m, which was won by Botswana's Amantle Montsho, Guyana's Aliann Tabitha Pompey and Christine Amertil of the Bahamas are promoted to silver and bronze respectively.

The Games' Federation said in a statement: "Ms Abugan had committed an anti-doping rule violation.

"Consequently, she has been disqualified from all events she participated in during the Games, with the results nullified.

"This includes her silver medal in the women's 400m. As she was also a member of her country's second placed 4x400m relay team, that result is also nullified."

Athlete education

The BBC's Matthew Kenyon in Delhi says this is a big blow for Nigeria's record, as the team has had its best Commonwealth performance in years, coming ninth in the medals table.

"Part of the problem facing Nigerian sport is that the country still does not have a domestic anti-doping agency," he reports.

The other issue is educating athletes, as often they simply do not realise they are taking banned substances, our reporter says.

Both Osayemi and Okon tested positive for methylhexaneamine, which was only banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a stimulant last year.

Earlier this year, it was reclassified and from the start of 2011 it can be used with a therapeutic use exception certificate.

The drug, which has some performance-enhancing qualities, is commonly found but often not labelled in supplements and products such as nasal decongestants.

BBC SPORT, 15/10/2010

Brother of Nigeria militant Henry Okah arrested

Charles Okah, the brother of Nigerian militant Henry Okah, has been arrested in Lagos on suspicion of aiding two deadly car bombings in the capital, Abuja, security sources say.

The attacks on 1 October during celebrations of the 50th anniversary of independence killed at least 12 people.

Henry Okah was detained in South Africa after the blasts and is facing terrorism charges.

He formerly led militants Mend, who say oil wealth must be fairly distributed.

The group be now leads is believed to have split from the main Mend - the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta - which signed an agreement with the government last year to end years of unrest in the oil-producing Niger Delta region.

Pseudonym

One security source told Associated Press that Charles Okah was detained during a raid on his home in Lagos on Saturday.

Henry Okah

* Grew up in wealthy Lagos family

* 1990s: Sold guns in Lagos

* 2003: Moved to South Africa

* Seen as man behind Mend's media-savvy e-mail strategy

* 2007: Arrested on gun-running charges in Angola

* 2008: Extradited to Nigeria

* 2009: Freed under amnesty the day after Mend staged first attack on Lagos

* 2010: Charged in South Africa over Abuja car bombing

"[He] has been mentioned... by suspects with us as a source of funds for the blast. He is with us in Abuja," the source said.

Charles Okah is also suspected of distributing information on behalf on Mend.

Charles Okah used the pseudonym Jomo Gbomo "to threaten and cause confusion" in emailed statements, the sources said.

An email warning of another bomb attack in Abuja was sent on Saturday and signed Jomo Gbomo, Reuters news agency quoted the sources as saying.

Henry Okah left Nigeria for South Africa after being freed from prison in July 2009.

He has denied links to the Abuja blasts but prosecutors say he was the mastermind.

Mend had issued a threat saying it intended to target the independence event in Abuja shortly before the two bombs went off, about five minutes apart.

BBC, 17/10/2010

Nigeria probes disappearance of 'toxic waste' ship

Nigeria's environment watchdog has ordered an inquiry into the apparent disappearance of a UK-registered ship it said had dumped toxic waste.

The watchdog said the Grand America had offloaded containers of electronic waste before disembarking.

But a customs official later said the containers had not been offloaded, and the ship was allowed to leave because no-one had ordered it to be impounded.

Africa, India and China have become favoured destinations for e-waste.

The Grand America was detained at the port about a week ago, together with another ship carrying a similar cargo.

Ngeri Benebo, director general of Nigeria's environmental standards enforcement agency, told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that the Grand America had arrived at Lagos from Antwerp in Belgium.

She said the other ship, the MV Veradin, was originally from New York and had sailed from Spain.

The MV Veradin is still at the port, but Ms Benebo said she wanted to know why the Grand America was allowed to leave.

Customs spokesman Wale Adeniyi told the programme that officials from the environment agency had inspected the Grand America's cargo last week.

He said it consisted of used TVs, computer monitors and other electronics, and the agency had deemed the cargo toxic.

So the cargo was returned to the vessel and it was allowed to leave, he said.

"There was no detention request received by customs," he said.

The Basel Action Network, a pressure group that monitors the trade in hazardous waste, has raised the alarm about toxic e-waste ending up in Nigeria.

In a recent report the body claimed that about 500 containers with 400,000 second-hand computers were unloaded every month in Lagos ports.

BBC, 20/10/2010

Nigeria militant's brother charged at 'secret hearing'

Charles Okah, brother of Nigerian oil militant Henry Okah, has been charged at a secret hearing in the capital.

He was arrested last weekend on suspicion of aiding two deadly car bombings during celebrations of the 50th anniversary of independence.

The BBC's Chris Ewokor in the capital, Abuja, says the defence lawyer was barred from the court proceedings.

Henry Okah was detained in South Africa after the blasts on 1 October and is facing terrorism charges.

Several other suspects, including Charles Okah's son Boloebi, were also escorted into the Abuja courtroom on Thursday morning.

High security

Our reporter says lawyers and journalists had expected to be able to attend the hearing.But all of a sudden, security agents blocked the entrance of the courtroom and would not allow anyone inside, he says.

"We were barred from entering the court premises by operatives of the State Security Services," Charles Okah's lawyer Ogheneovo Otemu told the BBC.

"The accused persons were arraigned before the court and they were not allowed to be represented by counsels of their choice, which is a very serious constitutional breach," he said.

Our correspondent says it is not yet clear if they entered any plea while in court, but the charge sheet showed they are being accused of engaging in criminal conspiracy to commit a felony and a crime bordering on murder - punishable by life imprisonment.

After a 15-minute hearing, the suspects emerged from the courtroom, closely guarded by security agents, he says,

They were not allowed to speak to anyone, not even their lawyers, as they were hurriedly bundled back into the vehicles and driven away.

The men are due back in court on 24 November.

Henry Okah previously led militants from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), who say oil wealth must be used to benefit local residents.

The group he now leads is believed to have split from the main Mend group, which signed an agreement with the government in 2009 to end years of unrest in the oil-producing Niger Delta region.

BBC, 21/10/2010

Nigeria court rejects 'forced marriage' case

A Nigerian high court has dismissed a case brought by a 26-year-old woman who says her father forced her to marry a senator.

The judge said her human rights had not been violated and it was a matrimonial matter for an Islamic court.

Zainab Isa Mayana was married to the senator of Zamfara State, Sahabi Ya'u, 54, in July at a ceremony where she was represented by her father.

She says she has never met him and her father knew she was already engaged.

Sokoto, where the trial took place, was one of several northern states to re-introduce Sharia law after the return to democracy in 1999.

'Courageous'

The BBC's Haruna Shehu Tangaza in Sokoto says that these days forced marriages are frowned on in the predominately Muslim north of Nigeria.

People have generally supported Ms Mayana and she has been seen as courageous in bringing the case against her father and Senator Ya'u, he says.

Judge Isiyaku Mohammed said under the constitution, the federal court could not intervene in the affairs of an Islamic court.

Ms Mayana was not in court for the ruling, but her lawyers told the BBC they would not relent in their efforts to dissolve the marriage as she was not married to a man of her choice.

They said they would file a new case at "an appropriate court", which by implication would be an Islamic court, our reporter says.

Ms Mayana, who is studying at Ahmadu Bello University, says she has been engaged to another man for five years.

Senator Ya'u was already married before his wedding to Ms Mayana in July, although it is not known exactly how many wives he has, our correspondent says.

Under Islamic law, a man can take up to four spouses.

BBC, 22/10/2010

Nigeria fraud blacklist issued by police

Senior politicians and businessmen are among more than 100 people listed by Nigerian anti-fraud police as being unsuitable to run for political office.

The EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) said those on the list were all being prosecuted for corruption.

The commission urged political parties not to endorse them as candidates in next year's elections.

One of those named, Orji Kalu, is running for president but has been arraigned on 107 counts of fraud.

He is accused of involvement in a fraud worth 5bn naira (£21m; $33m).

Politicians make up at least 40 people on the list, which the EFCC has published on its website.

Thirteen are former state governors, five are former ministers, three are serving MPs, and two are serving senators.

The BBC's Caroline Duffield, in Abuja, says fraud charges are no barrier to standing in elections, and some of those named are already campaigning.

But EFCC officials say that they believe those facing prosecution should not be endorsed as candidates.

The commission is appealing to political parties to select only "credible candidates" and not those on the list.

The EFCC says many of the defendants are deliberately stalling their cases in court so that they will not be tried before the elections next year.

BBC, 25/10/2010

Africa viewpoint: Nollywood and religion

In our series of viewpoints from African journalists, Sola Odunfa considers what Nigeria's movie industry reveals about the country's spirituality.

One major reason why I like Nollywood films is that I easily relate to the stories told and the morals implied.

I do not need a fertile imagination to understand the plots - if there are any serious ones - neither do I find it difficult to connect to the spiritual impulses of the characters.

Nollywood truly reflects the innate character of the Nigerian.

On a couple of occasions some friends have asked how I could "stoop so low" to spend hours watching these films, which are filled with scenes of voodoo and are of poor technical production, rather than spend quality time watching "first-rate" films from Hollywood.

What hypocrites!

Firstly they are the ones who call for people to buy goods and services made in Nigeria - in order to keep the domestic industries in business and thereby guarantee employment for their friends and others.

But if they also want those, who can afford the prices? To only purchase products and services of proven high technical quality, they would never find any such made in Nigeria.

So why single out Nollywood for technical shortcomings?

College campus conversions

As for the traditional religious rituals, they are part of the spiritual make-up of Nigerians.

These things have been practised in all cultures in the country for centuries and they have largely withstood the assault from European and Arabic cultures.

And however large the following of Islam and Christianity in Nigeria, traditional religions still have a strong pull - especially in times of personal trouble or tragedy.

The Yoruba people say: "Igbagbo ko pe k'a ma s'oro ile wa" meaning - Christianity does not bar us from celebrating our family (or community's) traditional religious festival.

Now that Islam and Christianity are the officially recognised and patronised religions, Nigerians take pride in putting on their best dresses on Fridays and Sundays to be seen in mosques and churches.

But, take it from this old horse, there is more to religious practice in Nigeria than meets the eye.

In the last few years Nigeria has witnessed a dramatic upsurge of apparent fundamentalism in Christian religious practice.

People are turning away from the orthodox churches and they are rushing to the Pentecostal churches in their millions.

The rush began with young people who were weaned on a new gospel of prosperity and miracles in college campuses.

When the new army of Pentecostal "born agains" graduated and were launched into society, the mainstream churches were caught napping; before they could feel the force of what had hit them, their former members were clapping and gyrating and sweating in new congregations.

Studied success

The Pentecostal church has become a movement that is sweeping across the nation, catching both Christians and Muslims.

It claims to be the fastest-growing religious sect in Nigeria; all others are merely trying out strategies to halt the force.

Yet, the secret of the Pentecostal leaders' success was apparently simple enough: They studied the Nigerian.

The average Nigerian has a strong belief in destiny.

They hold it that however hard or lazily one may work, the will of the gods, as pre-destined, will come to pass in their life.

They do not take responsibility for anything - not even for the inevitable road accident when they drive drunk, nor for exam failure resulting from truancy in class.

Therefore they believe that they must appease the gods at all times.

In the past, the appeasement was to the family or communal deities.

Those rituals are now out-of-date. Enter the Pentecostal church.

The pastor or prophet in designer silk suit from Milan has taken over from the village diviner and rituals are no longer performed with goats and cockerels but with tithes and American dollar offerings.

Prophecies do not come in riddles or proverbs, but in plain language.

One does not have anything over the other except in the most important matter of bank balance.

And Nollywood reflects the two faithfully.

I hear that both Nollywood and the Halleluiahs of the Pentecostal church are doing well across Africa.

What I do not know is how strongly the brethren outside Nigeria are attached to the culture of divination.

BBC, 26/10/2010

Nigeria curfew after deadly village clashes

A curfew has been imposed on two rural villages in Nigeria's Cross River state after deadly weekend clashes.

At least 30 people are reported to have been killed in violence between members of the Boje and Nsadop communities.

Youths armed with machetes, guns and explosives attacked rival villages, killing on sight and burning houses.

The clashes are believed to have been sparked by a lingering land dispute, but some residents told the BBC the violence may be politically motivated.

They said some local politicians were engaged in a power struggle ahead of next year's elections.

Villagers fled

The BBC's Fidelis Mbah in the region says three soldiers deployed to maintain peace in the area were among those killed.

Residents of both villages have fled, fearing for their lives, he reports.

More soldiers and anti-riot policemen have arrived to step up patrols.

Cross River state government spokesman Patrick Ugbe said some badly burnt corpses had been recovered in the aftermath of the fighting.

"About 90% of the houses in Nsadop were burnt down," he told the AFP news agency.

According to the authorities, a curfew has been imposed from 1800 local time to 0600 in the morning.

The villages are in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, which is notorious for its armed gangs.

Most of these so-called oil militants have now agreed to disarm as part of a government amnesty.

Niger Delta politicians originally created the gangs by arming young men to use as their private armies and to rig elections.

BBC, 26/10/2010

Nigeria's secret police intercept weapons shipment

A large shipment of weapons has been seized by Nigeria's State Security Service at the port in Lagos city.

The secret police say they intercepted 13 containers some of which had rocket launchers and grenades and other explosives hidden in the floorboards.

An SSS spokeswoman told the BBC she could not say who owned the containers or their intended destination.

But correspondents say the discovery has increased fears of possible violence during next year's elections.

The ship's manifest said it was carrying building materials.

So far only one container has been searched.

"We have made some arrests, but for now the number and names cannot be disclosed," SSS spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar told the BBC.

The BBC's Chris Ewokor in the capital Abuja says security agencies say there have increased surveillance at Lagos port following the bombings on 1 October during celebrations of the 50th anniversary of independence.

In the past politicians have armed young men to use as their private armies and to rig elections.

Oil militants in the Niger Delta - many of whom have disarmed - were originally armed in this way.

A militant group which did not sign an agreement with the government in 2009 to end years of unrest in the oil-producing Niger Delta region is believed to be behind the independence day blasts.

BBC, 27/10/2010

Nigeria rapped for mass evictions

The rights group Amnesty International has criticised Nigeria's government over mass evictions in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

Plans for urban development and slum demolition have been a violently contested issue in Port Harcourt.

Amnesty is warning that continued development may leave as many as 200,000 people homeless.

Sprawling and chaotic, the city of Port Harcourt is Nigeria's oil capital in the Niger Delta.

Its shanty towns and slums are home to tens of thousands of people all scraping a living in a city pumping billions of dollars worth of oil.

Live rounds

In 2009, the Rivers State government began plans to rebuild parts of the city.

They are demolishing slums on the waterfront as part of the "Greater Port Harcourt master plan".

Forced evictions regularly spark demonstrations there and police have even fired live rounds at protesters. Several civilians have been killed.

The local government hopes to develop the area to create jobs, stimulate the local economy and build better roads - all of it urgently needed.

They hope to build an eight-screen cinema, a shopping mall and hotels.

They are following a buy-out scheme, paying those who own the properties to move.

But most of the residents on the waterfront are poor tenants who get no compensation and have nowhere to go.

Many of them now sleep outdoors under bridges and in the streets.

Amnesty is now warning that as many as 200,000 people could end up homeless if alternative housing is not found for them.

"These planned demolitions are likely to plunge hundreds of thousands of Nigeria's most vulnerable citizens further into poverty," said the group's Africa deputy programme director, Tawanda Hondora.

"The government should halt the waterfront evictions until they ensure they comply with international human rights standards."

BBC, 28/10/2010

Nigerian leaders urge calm after ethnic violence flares

Community leaders in Nigeria's Plateau State are appealing for calm in villages outside the city of Jos.

At least six people - women and children - were killed, cattle slaughtered and homes burned in one village this week.

In January and March this year, similar attacks prompted a spiral of rioting and killing in the region that left hundreds of people dead.

Leaders in Ranwianku are urging residents not to think of revenge.

Of those killed, one was an elderly woman unable to flee the armed gang, one was a young mother and four were small children.

Photographs of a mass grave show tiny bodies wrapped and lying side by side.

Ranwianku is a predominantly Christian settlement - eyewitnesses in the village say those that attacked spoke the Fulani language.

In Jos and surrounding areas, the two communities - Berom Christians and Hausa Fulani - continue to live uneasily together after the mass bloodshed of earlier this year.

Out in the remote villages, the tensions are not about religion or politics but about grazing rights and land ownership.

Berom Christian farmers say they regularly experience low-level harassment and killings from Fulani herdsman, who graze cattle on the land.

The Fulani community often complain of the theft or slaughter of cattle.

Damage caused to property by cattle - or disputes over the loss of cattle - is often at the root of violence between the two ethnic groups.

BBC, 30/10/2010