ABUJA & ROME REACHING AN ACCORD

SECURITY: IMMIGRANTS AND DRUGS, MANGANELLI IS IN ABUJA

(AGI) - Abuja, 16 Feb. - The head of police, Antonio Manganelli, arrived in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, today, for a mission organised by the Interior Ministry. Manganelli is to return to Rome Tomorrow, after having met his Nigerian counterpart. Local sources and the Italian embassy in Abuja have said through private channels to AGI that Manganelli's visit is linked to the themes of illegal immigration and the international drugs trade. It is also probable, that there will be talks over an agreement for the repatriation of Nigerians held in Italy, for their punishment in Nigeria to be shortened.
Last week a similar agreement was reached between the British and Nigerian authorities.

NEWS

IMMIGRANTS. 13 DEAD DURING CROSSING, 5 ARRESTS IN SIRACUSA

Italy

(AGI) - Siracusa, Oct 13 - Five Nigerians have been charged with the death of 13 immigrants, all men, while trying to reach the coast of Portopalo di Capo Passero (Siracusa). The police has arrested the five who were also on board of the boat which left Libya with 71 people, among whom women and children, almost all from Ghana and Nigeria. Only 58 made it to Sicily.
The survivors told the investigators that they have seen the arrested Nigerians throw some of the 13 victims into the water, after they showed themselves nervous during the voyage. Others would voluntarily have left the boat out of desperation. Once on land the police had already identified and arrested three people smugglers, among also one of the five arrested Nigerians charged with homicide. The other four were detained in the temporary shelter of Cassibile. The arrests were confirmed this morning by the investigating judge of the Court of Siracusa.

http://www.agi.it/italy/news/200810131511-cro-ren0044-art.html