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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
Why we rehabilitate over 100 moribund boreholes, other projects in Hawul LGA…… Says Chair
By Ndahi Marama
The Executive Chairman of Hawul local government area in Borno state, Hon. Hussaini Malgwi has said, his administration in the last two years embarked on rehabilitation of over 100 malfunctional and abandoned boreholes in order to provide citizenry with portable drinking water.
Malgwi disclosed this Yesterday in an interview with Journalists about his stewardship in office.
He said, when he assumed the mantle of leadership as Chairman, he realized that portable water supply remained one of the major challenges affecting his people at the grassroots, therefore, his administration embarked on massive rehabilitation of existing but malfunctional boreholes.
“Clean water is wealth and good for healthy living, unfortunately, when i took over the mantle of leadership, most of the existing public boreholes across the 12 Wards of the Council were broken down or neglected, which prompted my attention to quickly declare state of emergency by rehabilitating most of the motorized and hand pump boreholes in Kida, Kinging, Sakwa, Horva, Gumshim Marama, Shaffa, Hema, Ghuma, Yimirshika, Sabon Kasuwa among other Wards too numerous to mention”. Malgwi said.
He said apart from rehabilitating boreholes, several blocks of classrooms with offices stores, toilets and other educational projects were carried out and completed visibly located at Sakwa Central Primary School and Wadar community of Bulumgwi Ward, while others are still ongoing.
The Chairman also explained that, construction of blocks of seven shops, space open stalls, 3 compartment and men/female toilets were executed each in Marama/Pakilama town Market, Mbulatawiwi, Whitambaya, Sabon Kasuwa communities, in addition to the Construction of a befitting Male.and Female Ward, Nurses Office, Labour Room and toilets at Domchaba, Grim Domchaba Ward to enhance public Health at the primary level.
On security and safety, Malgwi revealed that, his administration has procured and distributed new motorcycles to members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), hunters, and other security agencies in the council, which according to him aided in restoration of peace, safety of lives and property in Hawul.
Other areas of intervention he added, include provision of agricultural inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers at subsidized rate, provision of access rural roads linking new grain market and Azare Fulani at Mbulatawiwi, Gongzang/Chata Ward, and the ongoing construction of Directors and Supervisory Councillors offices at the Council Secretariat in Azare town as well as execution of Mini Fire Service Station, construction of 620 Metre perimeter fence and security room at New Governor’s lodge were carried out.
The Chairman noted that most of these achievements were inline with Governor Babagana Zulum’s 10- Pact Transformation Agenda (PTA) and 25- Year Development Plan.
He then called on the people of the area to give their maximum support and cooperation to the present administration which is poised to ensure inclusivity and provision of social infrastructures to its people devoid of political or religious inclination.
Why we rehabilitate over 100 moribund boreholes, other projects in Hawul LGA…… Says Chair
Entire Staff of NIMC Undergo Capacity Building
By: Michael Mike
All 3,780 staff members of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have embarked on capacity building aimed at top service delivery.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the Commission, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, the
training, which is across all departments and units of the Commission, in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, on staff capacity building across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Adegoke said it is on record that since the inception of NIMC, staff training and capacity building have been at their lowest ebb. However, the arrival of Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, as the DG/CEO of NIMC, has changed the trajectory of events.
He added that across the country, in states and local government areas, all NIMC staff, irrespective of cadre, have undergone or are still undergoing capacity building to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration. Adegoke said staff nationwide, elated at this new era of enhanced capacity building, could not hide their joy as they sincerely appreciated Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote for her sterling, transformational, and visionary leadership.
He said since assuming office, Engr. Coker-Odusote has not only transformed NIMC but has also initiated several welfare initiatives that have boosted staff morale. These include the distribution of over 2,500 enrollment devices to aid data capturing, securing Federal Government approval and implementation for a 25%–35% salary increment for staff of the Commission, payment of extra transport allowance and providing free buses to cushion transport challenges for staff in the Headquarters, among many other staff welfare-oriented initiatives.
He noted that staff from the States and local government offices deeply appreciated Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, for driving inclusive staff capacity building, promoting staff welfare, providing work tools and resources, providing modern furniture, boosting staff morale with unprecedented welfare packages, and building a workforce that delivers on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu
Entire Staff of NIMC Undergo Capacity Building
Indian businessman, 3 others arrested over N3.9bn tramadol intercepted at Lagos airport
By: Michael Mike
An Indian businessman Gupta Ravi Kumar and three Nigerian accomplices: Ogunlana Noah Olanrewaju, Olushola Idrees Kayode and Bakare Korede Muheeb have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in connection with the seizure of 2,248,000 pills of tramadol 200mg/225mg intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, said the tramadol shipment worth N3,990,000,000 in street value was imported from Delhi, India, disguised as multi-vitamins in 114 cartons and arrived the import shed of the Lagos airport on Ethiopian Airline flight last Monday.
He said a team of NDLEA officers who had put the consignment under surveillance however swooped on a clearing agent and two drivers who were trying to move the shipment out of the airport in two trucks last Thursday, adding that a follow up operation the following day led to the arrest of the Indian businessman Gupta Ravi Kumar, when he was trying to take delivery of the consignment.
Babafemi said at the terminal 2 departure gate of the airport, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 7th September intercepted a passenger Onyeganochi Ifeanyi travelling on a Qatar Airline flight to Doha, stating that a search of his bag led to the recovery of 900 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis concealed in crayfish.
Onyeganochi, a first-time traveler, claimed the bag was given to him to help take to Doha by a Qatar-based Nigerian Ohadiegwu Uchenna who followed him to the airport.
He said his confession led to the arrest of Uchenna who was still within view. Operatives, who later conducted a search of Uchenna’s hotel room in Ajao estate discovered additional 200 grammes of the same psychoactive substance, and he claimed he was to return to Doha days later and pick the bag from the unsuspecting Onyeganochi if he had succeeded escaping security checks.
Babafemi said at the Tincan port in Lagos, a total of 161 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 81.7 kilogrammes and 1.2 kilogrammes hashish oil were recovered from a 40ft container of vehicle spare parts and used vehicles imported from Montreal Canada during a joint examination of the shipment last Tuesday. He disclosed that two suspects: John Ochigbo, 53, and Okeke Kingsley, 26, have been taken into custody in connection with the seizure.
Another shipment of Canadian Loud with a total weight of 65 kilogrammes was tracked from the port to Third Mainland bridge where NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle conveying the consignment, recovered it and arrested the driver Abubakar Ibrahim, 42 on Thursday 11th September.
Two separate shipments of methamphetamine concealed in picture frame and Loud, hidden in video players were seized at two courier companies in Lagos on Monday 8th and Thursday 11th September respectively by NDLEA operatives. While 6 grammes of meth recovered from the picture frame were meant for delivery in Gabon, 1.1 kilogrammes Loud in the decoder machines was heading to the United Arab Emirate.
In Ikorodu area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence last Thursday raided a factory producing skuchies, a blend of cannabis and black currant drink. No less than 6,029 bottles of the new psychoactive substance and 4,232 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered from the factory located in Caritas, Ibeshe area of Ikorodu while the factory manager Joy Awosika was arrested. Another suspect, Akeem Oriola was same day arrested in Mushin area of Lagos with 26 kilogrammes skunk.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives on a stop and search operation at Utako area of the FCT last Thursday arrested a dispatch rider Godsplan Vincent, 29, while on a mission to distribute 50.7 grammes of cocaine and 66 grammes of Loud. Three female suspects: Faidat Azeez, 25; Alanu Fatimoh, 40, and Mojeed Taiwo, 25, were arrested in Lagbondoko and Akitan areas of Oyo town, Oyo State in connection with the seizure of 17 kilogrammes skunk found in their possession.
No fewer than 100,000 pills of tramadol 200mg/225mg were seized from a suspect Musa Shuaibu, 38, at Gadar Tamburawa, along Zaria – Kano road last Monday while
196 litres of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance, were recovered from Abubakar Adamu, 35, at Na’ibawa area of Kano by NDLEA operatives who also seized 34.1 kilogrammes skunk, 493 tubes of rubber solution and 25 litres of ‘suck and die’, an NPS, from Basiru Umar, 18,
at Wailari area, Kumbotso LGA, Kano state last Thursday.
In Anambra state, a couple: Nzube Onyedika, 41, and Ebele Onyedika, 42, were arrested during a raid operation at Obosi where 13.9 kilogrammes Methamphetamine and 5.3 kilogrammes skunk were recovered from them while various quantities of meth, tramadol, swinol, heroin and skunk were seized from another suspect Nnamchi Tochukwu, 36.
In Yobe, a suspect Mohammed Auwal was arrested after 36 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 22.1 kilogrammes were recovered from his residence at Gidan Talakawa area of Potiskum, while three trans-border drug traffickers: Kunyadi Ogbungbun, 24; Olalekan Adewale, 20; and Sanya Joshua,22, were nabbed with 394 kilogrammes skunk at Imeko area of Ogun State during a joint operation by NDLEA operatives with the police and local vigilante on Sunday 7th September. Three motorcycles used in conveying the illicit consignment were also recovered.
In Edo state, a total of 16,966.633 kilogrammes of skunk were destroyed on a cannabis plantation measuring 6.786653 hectares at Ugbogyi forest, Ovia South West local government area while 112 bags of processed cannabis weighing 1,176 kilogrammes were also recovered at the farm where four suspects: Ebenezer Ewang; Oshore John; Emmanuel Monday and David Sunday were arrested.
In like manner, Commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Tincan, Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Kano, FCT, Anambra, Yobe, and Ogun commands for the arrests, and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
Indian businessman, 3 others arrested over N3.9bn tramadol intercepted at Lagos airport
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Why we rehabilitate over 100 moribund boreholes, other projects in Hawul LGA…… Says Chair
Entire Staff of NIMC Undergo Capacity Building
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