News
Benue communal crisis: Journalist losses aunt, raise the alarm over threat to life
Benue communal crisis: Journalist losses aunt, raise the alarm over threat to life
By: Michael Mike
Known as the Food Basket of the Nation, Benue is gradually losing that epic crest to be christened the epicentre of crisis.
In virtually all parts of the state hardly a week pass without the record of one damning crisis or the other that have left the state in a shadow of its old self.
If the crisis is not armed herdsmen induced, it is local bandits instigated or communal bloody fight that leaves in its wake sorrows, tears and blood.
It’s been all tales of woes for a people who usually pride themselves as the food power house of the country where several of the grains, citrus, yam, cassava, rice, tomatoes, pepper, ginger, melon and several other are farmed in commercial qualities and hauled to other parts of the country.
Unfortunately the state is fast losing that panache that makes it stand out among the committee of states in the country owing to the ceaseless attacks and killings.
There is no gainsaying that Benue is currently bleeding and not a few families are being set backwards as a result of the crisis.
Many have continued to lose their sources of livelihood, homes, properties and loved ones in the crisis in parts of the state that have defiled all manner of intervenes to have them nipped in the bud.
From Agatu to Apa, Otukpo to Ogbadibo. From Gwer West to Makurdi and Guma, down to Gwer East LGAs; from Ukum all the way to Kwande LGAs it’s been same sad story of crisis.
The implication is that families have been rendered homeless and denied access to their farmlands. Thousands of these families have found solace in Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps where they are surviving on the goodwill of spirited individuals and organisations.
While majority of these displaced persons were victims of armed herdsmen incursions in several Benue communities many others have not known peace because of bloody crisis between neighbouring sister communities that ordinarily should be in peace with each other.
Of special mention is the Mbarvu and Mbasombo communities in Gwer East LGA of the state where all known measures have been taken by the state government to end the bloody conflict over a parcel of land the warring sister communities have resisted all the peace initiatives to end.
The then Governor of the state, Chief Samuel Ortom had also in May 2020 suspended two traditional rulers of both communities, Chief Peter Ikyum of Ishough and Chief Ager Kuhe of Mbasombo, in oder to compel the warring communities to sheath their sword but they remained adamant.
Even the threat by the present administration in June 2023 to take over the disputed land has not been able to convince the hitherto good neighbours to drop their arms and embrace peace.
Bothered by the level of attacks and killings in the crisis, women of both communities had also defied the heavy downpour, trooped out in their thousands and took over the busy Makurdi-Aliade road at Ikpayonge to protest the crisis, the destruction of properties including farmland and farm produce as well as the loss of innocent lives.
The development left road users and commuters stranded for several hours as long queues of cars and trucks coming from the South to the Northern part of the country and those from the Northern part of the country conveying goods and commuters to the South were left stranded.
The angry protesters who sang solidarity songs as they marched for hundreds of meters to register their anger over the needless bloodbath in their communities lamented the incessant killings and razing of houses in the two warring sister communities.
It took the intervention of the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Aondona Dajoh and his colleagues who were all drenched in rain water, to calm the angry protesters.
The Woman Leader of Mbakough Kindred, Mrs. Veronica Orbunde who addressed the lawmakers said the peaceful demonstration was to draw government’s attention to the use of militia by the fueding parties, who rape innocent women in their farms and also kidnap and kill some of their husbands for no justifiable reasons.
She said, “we are tired of this crisis and we are pleading with the sister communities to end this senseless killings and destruction of properties in our communities.”
Addressing the huge crowd after inspecting the destruction at the Ikpayongo market in one of the attacks, the Speaker who expressed worry at the development appealed to the warring communities to embrace peace and stop the incessant killings and destruction of properties, assuring that the government would deploy more security personnel to the area to protect the lives and properties of the people.
Among the women who lost loved ones, property and farmland as well as farm produce in the crisis is Victoria Ojeme, a journalist of repute who is currently facing grave danger after losing an aunt in the crisis.
Mrs Ojeme who has unfortunately become a target for attack by the rampaging militia prosecuting the bloody crisis hails from Mbarvu, one of the communities at the centre of the crisis.
Nararting her ordeal, Ojeme said “I hail from Gwer East LGA of Benue state, Mbarvu community specifically. I am the third daughter of Pa Atule Humbe and my late mother’s name is Mama Bridget Humbe.
“I have been in shock for the past three years and has also stayed away from my community for several years after receiving so many threats from the neighbouring community that has been at loggerheads with my community.
“They have threatened all the youths for coming back home and for those who thought the threat was just a mere threat, never came back alive.
“So many houses have been razed down, the elderly that could not flee were slughtered by the invading community,
“In one of the attacks they killed my Aunt the only surviving woman in my father’s house. Today my life is also in danger. They feel that some of us are crying out about the spate of attacks and killings in the senseless crisis and I have become a target.
“I appeal to the government to take decisive steps to end the crisis as the loss of innocent lives and destruction of properties is already taking its toll on the farming populace who have all deserted their ancestral homes and farmland and have become Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in their own state.”
Benue communal crisis: Journalist losses aunt, raise the alarm over threat to life
Military
GOC 7 Div. Visit frontline troops in Sambisa Forest, lauded them for killing 21 terrorists and rescuing 386 civilians
GOC 7 Div. Visit frontline troops in Sambisa Forest, lauded them for killing 21 terrorists and rescuing 386 civilians
By: Zagazola Makama
The acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 of the Nigeria Army, Brig. Gen. Abubakar Haruna, has paid a morale boosting visit to the troops fighting Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest and lauded them for killing 21 Boko Haram terrorists, destroying their camps and rescuing 386 victims.
Gen Haruna, stated this while addressing the troops in the outskirts of Sambisa forest in Konduga LGA after welcoming them troops for conducting a 10-day operation.
Haruna said that the operation tagged “Operation Desert Sanity III was to clear Sambisa forest of the remnants of all categories of terrorists as well as provide some of them eager to surrender as observed the opportunity to do so.
“I want to commend you for your exceptional performance and professionalism exhibited during the operation and I urged you to sustain the tempo. Our Special Forces troops, the troops of 21 armored Brigade, the Civilian JTF and the Hybrid Forces have all done very well.
The Chief of Army Staff is highly pleased with your performance. Gentlemen, you have done your beat. You have sacrifice yourselves to ensure that peace and normalcy returns to the North East. This is a wonderful outing and we are very happy.
“We have to stop what ever we are diong and come here to let you know that we are with you always. To know what you people are diong so that we can have a feeling of what you people are giong through.
He urged them to do more to hasten the defeat of insurgency. My call on the officers and soldiers to remained committed noting that surely the end result will be a resounding success for all of us.
“Our effort is to ensure that we clear remnants of terrorists in the Sambisa and give those willing to surrender the opportunity to surrender. With this operation, we envisage many of them will surrender as they have started.
The troops have successfully cleared several Boko Haram enclaves ranging from Lawanti, Ukuba, Farisu, Sabil Huda, Njimia, Garin Gulukos, Garin Falluja, Shababul Ummah, Garin Pannel bitter and Lagara Anguwan Gwai Gwai among others.
The troops killed scores of the terrorists including their commanders and made recoveries of different types of arms, equipment and armored vehicles.
“We also rescued some civilians; as of yesterday, we rescued 386 and I am sure the number will increase by today,” Haruna said.
Some of those rescued who spoke, said they have been in captivity for the past 10 years and will be provided with medical support and rehabilitation.
We therefore thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja for giving us all the support which translated to this achievement and the Theartre Commander Commander, North East Operation Hadin Kai Joint Task Force, Maj. Gen. Waidi Shuaibu, for his strategic guidance and supervision.
Zagazola understands that the presence the GOC accompanied by his Principal Staff Officers of the Division in the frontline symbolizes a courageous leadership which has immensely boosted the morale of the fighting troops.
GOC 7 Div. Visit frontline troops in Sambisa Forest, lauded them for killing 21 terrorists and rescuing 386 civilians
Bego expresses government gratitude for support for Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, has expressed the profound gratitude of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni CON, and the government and people of Yobe State for partner support and their determination to stay the course as Yobe works to address its myriad challenges.
Bego disclosed this yesterday while representing the Yobe state government in a meeting with the visiting Joint Humanitarian Technical Field Mission, comprising the representatives of the office of the Vice President, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Others include the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and IDPs, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), other development partners, our own SEMA, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.
According to Bego, the meeting focused on what the Yobe state government and the above-mentioned partners can do together—increasingly—to address the needs of thousands of people in the state who have been made vulnerable to food insecurity, malnutrition, and other health challenges as a result of the activities of non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and other recent social, economic, and climate-based challenges the state has experienced.
I underscored the continued commitment of His Excellency Governor Buni to finding durable solutions to the challenges of internal displacement and vulnerability. I noted that the high-level steering committee on durable solutions that he empaneled has gone forward in developing a strategic action plan complete with pathways for IDPs and vulnerable host communities.
He also emphasized that while the Buni administration continues to invest in healthcare, education, and other social services to mitigate the effects of the decade-long NSAGs conflict, the support of our partners would be significant in accelerating the process and ensuring that vulnerable people all across the state have a chance to reclaim their lives.
Bego expresses government gratitude for support for Yobe
FG Asks for Improved Environmental Regulatory Framework
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has asked the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and other stakeholders to improve on environmental regulatory framework and use of cleaner technologies for sustainable future.
Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako gave the charge on Thursday at the Maiden Environmental Performance Award for the Oil and Gas sector in Abuja.
The event was organised by NOSDRA in collaboration with the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), an NGO.
Salako identified effective environmental regulatory mechanism in the petroleum industry as essential for sustainable resource management, climate change mitigation, economic efficiency and accountability.
The minister said that such mechanism was also crucial for building public trust for operational social licencing, legal and international compliance.
He said that oil and gas was unarguably the world’s most vital, but most environmentally disruptive industry.
Salako, however, stressed the need for effective regulation of the sector to ensure that the benefits of oil and gas production were balanced.
He said: “Also, there is the need to protect the environment, maintain public health and contribute to national development on a sustainable manner.”
The minister said that the country had faced significant challenges and limitations in managing and responding to oil spills resulting in consequential land degradation prior to the establishment of NOSDRA in October 2006.
He said that the situation was characterised by a lack of cohesive policy, inefficient coordination among stakeholders and inadequate resources to effectively address oil spill incidents particularly in the Niger-Delta region.
“Nigeria is faced with a fragmented regulatory framework, inadequate preparedness and response, limited community engagement negative environmental and health impacts, adverse economic consequences, among others.
“Since the establishment of NOSDRA, it has been working in the area of spill preparedness, response, cleanup and remediation among others.
“Over the years, NOSDRA has remained unwavering in delivering on its mandate, responding to thousands of major and minor oil spills, ensuring that impacted communities are adequately compensated and remediated.
“Non-complying oil operators are taking to court to enforce compliance,” he said.
He added that environmental performance award serves as a multi-faceted tool aimed at driving change, promoting sustainability and acknowledging those that lead by example.
According to him, the award also addresses historical environmental goals; enhances community relations, boosts innovations and offers reputational requirement and investment.
The event was also an avenue to bestow the environmental sustainability performance award on oil, gas industry players by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN).
The Director-General of NOSDRA, Idris Musa, said that the awards are a testament to stakeholders’ collective commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation and pursuit of excellence within the oil and gas industry.
Musa said this at the maiden edition of the award for the Oil and Gas sector on Thursday in Abuja.
Some of the awardees are TotalEnergy, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Agip oil while Akwa-Ibom received the best environmental-friendly state award.
He said that the award was to recognise the organisation with the best environmental performance for 2022 and 2023.
Musa said that the performance award was conceived to highlight and reward those that have taken bold steps to address environmental challenges.
“It is to showcase significant progress we can achieve when we commit to responsible practices. This initiative also reflects our understanding of the path to sustainability and the need to work together.
” It requires collaboration among industry operators, regulatory bodies, local communities and international partners, “he said
Musa said that by sharing best practices and leveraging on new technologies among others, the nation could drive the transformative change needed to secure a sustainable future for the oil and gas industry.
He said that NOSDRA plays a crucial role in safeguarding the environment from the potential devastations arising from the operations of the oil and gas industry.
Musa explained that 73 companies were assessed from 2022 to 2023 based on performance variables, which included submission of incident reporting forms
Other variables are the inventory of spill response equipment stockpiles as a function of preparedness for response.
He said the award is grouped into four categories which included the best environmental performance for both local and international oil companies.
Others are most environmentally-friendly states as well as awards for the 2019 and 2020 Environmental Performance Index carried out by SDN.
Country Director, SDN, Florence IbokAbasi, said the organisation’s collaboration with NOSDRA was to encourage improved environmental performance in the oil and gas sector.
She advocated for innovation and technical initiatives that would result in reduced oil spills and gas flare in the industry.
IbokAbasi identified some of the challenges in the industry as oil theft, sabotage and insecurity.
She said SDN was collaborating with relevant stakeholders including government agencies, and communities to ensure improved pollution reporting and a safer environment.
Chairman/Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa Business Unit, Jim Swartz, a recipient of the award, said the organisation has been marked by continuous improvement, innovations and collaboration.
He was represented by Sam Daibo, Director, Government Affairs, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA).
“As we celebrate this environmental protection award, we re-echo our commitment to the partnership with NOSDRA and other stakeholders.
“The partnership is enhancing good environmental practices. Together we can build a sustainable future for Nigeria,“he said.
FG Asks for Improved Environmental Regulatory Framework
GOC 7 Div. Visit frontline troops in Sambisa Forest, lauded them for killing 21 terrorists and rescuing 386 civilians
Bego expresses government gratitude for support for Yobe
FG Asks for Improved Environmental Regulatory Framework
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