Michael Ojuroye Initiative (Ngo)

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ekiti State Command, says it has commenced the destruction of 680 acres of cannabis farms in Ode Forest, Gboyin Local Government Area of the state. The state Commander, Akingbade Bamidele, said this on Thursday in Ado Ekiti the state capital. The cannabis farms were discovered by the agency in July and September. The four persons that were arrested in connection with the discovery, Myaga Joseph, Lawal Ganiyu, Amos Macus and Ifije Sunday, were jailed last week . During the raid of the farms, 160bags of cannabis leaves weighing 2,044 tons were seized. The NDLEA boss said, “In the course of our intelligence gathering, we discovered the large plantation of cannabis and raided the farms. “This is the outcome of our efforts at sensitising the public on the danger of drug cultivation and trafficking.” He said the destruction of the farms, situated in two locations, would take three weeks. “The destruction was sequel to the conviction of those arre...

The kidnapped Moulin-Fournier family were welcomed back to France by President Hollande in April A French priest has been kidnapped in northern Cameroon close to the border with Nigeria, the French foreign ministry says. Georges Vandenbeusch was seized in the early hours of Thursday near Koza, about 30km (19 miles) from the border. Around 15 gunmen burst into the compound in Nguetchewe where the priest worked, according to his bishop. The Nigerian Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, is known to operate in the area. "We are working with Cameroonian authorities to secure his release," French officials said in a statement. 'Danger' France says it warned people that the area was dangerous but that the 42-year-old "chose to remain in his parish to carry out his work". The Paris-based bishop responsible for Mr Vandenbeusch, Monseigneur Gerard Daucourt, said the priest's suitcase was found on the road to Nigeria with only a chequebook in it, accordin...

The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes: "Progress is being made" The relief operation in the central Philippines to help those affected by Typhoon Haiyan is making progress following the arrival of a US aircraft carrier and its escort of two cruisers. More victims are receiving help but a BBC correspondent at the scene says there is still no large-scale food distribution taking place. The first mass burials have been carried out in Tacloban. The confirmed death toll, more than 2,300, is expected to continue rising. More than 11 million people have been affected by the typhoon, according to the UN. Many buildings were flattened by the storm and others heavily damaged including this church in Tacloban Unprecedented The top US commander in the Philippines told the BBC that US military support would be on an unprecedented scale. The USS George Washington, carrying 5,000 crew and moored off the east of Samar island, will expand search-and-rescue operations and provid...

President Obama: "I completely get how upsetting this can be for a lot of Americans... To those Americans, I hear you loud and clear." US President Barack Obama has announced a one-year reprieve for millions of Americans facing cancelled insurance plans under his healthcare law. A contrite Mr Obama said his administration "fumbled the rollout" of his flagship domestic achievement. Companies discontinued the policies as they did not meet new minimum requirements under the legislation. A separate problem with the law is the glitches plaguing the federal website set up to sell the new insurance. On Thursday, Mr Obama said improvements to the website, which was launched last month, would be "marked and noticeable" by the end of November. 'Loud and clear' In the White House briefing room, Mr Obama also acknowledged the flaws with the law's rollout had put a "burden" on his fellow Democrats. Many of his political allies fear a backl...