Current's Mariana van Zeller travels to one of the most unstable regions in the world - Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta. She investigates what's behind the growing number of kidnappings and attacks in Africa's largest oil producer and the US's fifth largest energy supplier.
Related stories: Video - Chevron oil drilling disaster in Nigeria enters fourth week
Video - The Tragedy of oil spills in the Niger Delta of Nigeria
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
Violent crime committed by armed gangs and militants wearing police uniforms remains a threat to US citizens in Nigeria, the US State Department said.
The State Department issued a travel advisory warning of the risks of traveling to Nigeria. "Violent crime committed by individuals and gangs, as well as by persons wearing police and military uniforms, remains a problem throughout the country," the advisory read.
Abuja in December declared a state of emergency in parts of the country because of militant activity attributed to Islamist militant group, Boko Haram.
The advisory noted that Boko Haram took responsibility for a series of attacks in February that killed dozens of people and left many more injured. The group seeks to establish an Islamist state in a country divided along Muslim and Christian lines.
The State Department said kidnapping remains a security concern as well. Five US citizens were kidnapped in Nigeria last year and another was abducted from his vehicle in January.
The advisory said foreigners shouldn't travel to areas designated as conflict areas by the government as Abuja may likely consider such activity illegal.
"The state of emergency gives the government sweeping powers to search and arrest without warrants," the State Department warned.
Related story: U.S. warns its citizens against trips to Nigeria
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
Hell was let loose on social network, Twitter during the week when a 14 year old kid took on Peter Okoye of the P-Square fame, lecturing him on the rules of grammar.
Peter innocently took to Twitter to announce the lucky winner of the P-Suqare’s Fan of The Month give-away prize. Ok peeps check dis out!…dis person deserve to be my fan of the month. No ojoro, Peter tweeted.
But unfortunately for the superstar, a brilliant 14 year-old girl would not let go of his wrong use of words, as she corrected him out-rightly, especially when he used the word ‘deserve’ in place of a singular noun of ‘deserves.’
English mistress thank u RT @Hazelavelie: *deserves RT @PeterPsquare: Ok peeps check dis out!…dis person deserve to be my fan of the month. No ojoro, he tweeted again.
Unable to bear the insult after the little girl corrected his bad English, Peter rained insults on the little girl, wishing that he could see her face to face. Unfortunately, she was nowhere to be found on Twitter.
Barking like a wounded dog, Peter vented his anger this way: I don’t think she’s up to 14yrs old and I don’t knw if she’s on twitter… But of cos her fbook name is Chantal Tcheou.
Thank u my dear.RT @MumcieCJ: @PeterPsquare sum idiots on twitter looking out for people’s mistakes “in english” like dey are perfect. NONSENSE!!!Too know…., Peter blasted out.
Surprisingly, the same fan with the Twitter name Chantal Tcheou won Peter’s Fan of The Month gifts of Ipad2 and other goodies.
Related story: P-Square landlord misbehaving
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
A maritime monitoring group said Wednesday that pirates have kidnapped at least two members of a cargo ship anchored off the Nigerian coast.
The International Maritime Bureau said eight Nigerian pirates opened fire on the Dutch-owned vessel Tuesday, robbing the 14-member crew before escaping in a small speedboat with the ship's captain and engineer.
It said an additional crew member was missing following the attack and another suffered unspecified injuries.
Pirates in the Gulf of Guinea have become increasingly bold in recent months. IMB says there has been seven reported pirate attacks in the region this year.
Two weeks ago, pirates carried out a deadly hijacking on a cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria, killing the ship's captain and chief engineer.
IMB has warned vessels in the region to keep strict anti-piracy watch, saying at least one group of pirates appears to be preying on ships in the area.
West African pirates are not as active as their counterparts in Somalia, but a rising number of attacks prompted the IMB to post warnings about traveling through the Gulf of Guinea.
Related stories: Kidnapping culture in Nigeria on the rise
MEND kidnap crew from oil tanker
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
A Malaysian High Court on Monday sentenced a Nigerian man to death after he was found guilty of drug trafficking.
Judicial Commissioner, Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against 34-year-old Oluigbo Eric Chimeze.
Mr Oluigbo allegedly distributed 22.159kg of cannabis at a traffic light in Napoh, heading to Bukit Kayu Hitam at about 6.45am on Sept 1, 2010.
He was charged under Section 39 (B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries a mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
The accused was represented by Counsel B. Murthy while prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor, Noor Fadzila Ishak.
According to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 of Malaysia as amended in 2006:
1. No person shall, on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person, whether or not such other person is in Malaysia —
(a) traffic in a dangerous drug,
(b) offer to traffic in a dangerous drug, or
(c) do or offer to do an act preparatory to or for the purpose of trafficking in a dangerous drug.
2. Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be punished on conviction with death.
The number of people executed in Malaysia remains unknown, even as reported death sentences for drugs appear to be increasing in recent years. While Malaysia is generally not considered to be a high-volume executing state it has sentenced people to death in high numbers, mostly for drug related offences.
Provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act also give Malaysian authorities the power to detain drug trafficking suspects without warrant and without a court appearance for up to sixty days. After such period, the Home Ministry can issue a detention order, which entitles the detainee to an appearance before a court to argue for his or her release. Without the court’s release of the suspect, the person can be held for successive two-year intervals. An advisory board reviews the suspect’s detention, but such a process falls far short of the procedural rights of a court proceeding. It has been alleged that police detain people under this Act after they have been acquitted by the courts.
Only High Courts have the jurisdiction to sentence someone to death. Juvenile cases involving the death penalty are heard in High Courts instead of the juvenile court where other juvenile cases are heard. Appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court are automatic. The last resort for the convicted is to plead pardon for clemency. Pardons or clemency are granted by the Ruler or Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of the state where the crime is committed or the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if the crime is committed in the Federal Territories or when involving members of the armed forces. Death sentences are carried out by hanging as provided in Section 281 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Pregnant women and children may not be sentenced to death.
Malaysia sentenced 50 people to death for drug offences in 2009 – more than double the figure from 2008.
Related stories: Two Nigerian drug traffickers excrete 160 wraps of Cocaine while in custody
NDLEA Arrests 103 Drug Traffickers
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
