Scores die in explosion in Kaduna; Ex-militants seek implementation of amnesty deal; Police and robbers clash in Kogi state; Europe and U.S. may ban Nigerian cargoes over new screening rule
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    • NIGERIA

    According to reports, soon after northern leaders ended their two-day discussions in Kaduna on how to ensure that peace reigns in the north, an explosion in the city killed at least eight persons including a pregnant woman and her two children and injured several others. The police authorities said the explosion had resulted from a gas cylinder, but eyewitnesses categorically stated that the explosion occurred when two men threw a bomb into the area. No one has claimed responsibility for it. 1

    Separately, the North-South highway connected by the River-Niger-Murtala Muhammed Bridge along Lokoja-Abuja Road was blocked by suspected former Niger Delta militants, causing a major disturbance to vehicular traffic. The former militants were intercepted by the police on their way to Abuja to protest alleged non-implementation of the agreement reached between them and the Federal Government as part of the amnesty deal. Consequently, they have issued a four-day ultimatum to the government to implement the amnesty agreement or risk their going back to violence. 2

    Reports noted that in a renewed onslaught, armed robbers killed four policemen in Okene area of Kogi State and flew away with their AK 47 rifles. But in a reprisal attack, the Okene Police Command raided the bandits’ hide out and razed it, killing a civilian in the process. The State’s Police Public Relations Officer Ajayi Okasomi confirmed the incident and said steps had been taken to track down the robbers. He explained that the10 AK 47 recovered was a major breakthrough in the effort of the Police to ensure security in the state. 3

    In other develoepmts, according to reports, Nigeria risks the rejection of cargoes from the country to Europe and the United States as there were indications that it is yet to comply with the European Civil Aviation Commission deadline to shift from single view screening machines to the dual view devices. From 2012, all airports in the United Kingdom will insist on cargo being screened from more than one view. 4

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