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Motor spare parts dealers protest bad road in Benin

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Motor spare parts dealers protest bad road in Benin

Motor spare parts dealers protest bad road in Benin

Scores of traders at the popular Uwelu International spare parts market in Benin on Monday shut down the Ugbowo axis of the Benin-Lagos expressway to protest the deplorable condition of the Uwelu road.

The traders shut their shops at the market to barricade the ever-busy highway, which caused gridlock on the only gateway into the ancient city.

The development left many passengers stranded, with workers of the University of Benin and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital mostly affected.

The reports gathered that travellers, who had boarded buses from various transport companies, were also trapped in the traffic that lasted several hours.

Many commuters had to trek several kilometres to beat the roadblock before getting vehicles to their destinations.

One of the protesting traders, who identified himself simply as Chinedu, said that the deplorable condition of the road had badly affected their businesses, as customers could no longer access the market.

Government officials, he said had continued to collect revenue from them, without any effort to address the deplorable situation.

“Many of our members no longer come to the market as the road has completely cut us off and customers no longer come to patronise us.

“The most annoying part of it is that while we cannot do business in the market, government agents come to the market every day to collect revenue,” he said.

One of the affected commuters, Sarah Simas, told newsmen she had trekked to Uselu market from 5-Junction, a distance of about six kilometres, as a result of the gridlock.

The protesters vowed to sustain the protest until relevant government agencies address their plight.

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Crime

11 kidnapped Benue Links passengers rescued in Okpokwu

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11 kidnapped Benue Links passengers rescued in Okpokwu

By: Zagazola Makama

Eleven passengers abducted from a Benue Links commercial bus have been safely rescued in a forest near Ondo village in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Zagazola Makama recalls that the passengers were kidnapped on June 22 while travelling along the Otukpo–Enugu highway in a Benue Links Hummer bus.

Security sources reliably confirmed that the victims were freed on June 29 following sustained search operations by the security forced supported by local vigilance groups and the Benue State Civil Protection Guard.

Credible intelligence reportedly indicated that the kidnappers were moving the captives through a bush path around Ondo village in Ugbokolo. In response, the rescue teams swiftly mobilised and launched a coordinated search operation in the area.

After several hours of intense combing of the forest, the victims were found alive and safely evacuated to Ugbokolo town, where they were provided immediate care.

The rescued individuals were identified as Bam Joseph, Doom Terhile, Uju Mercy, Ashika Linda, Atule Ladi, Undia Iveren, Terfa Kwshdoo, Akume Hembadoon, Ikpeen Msendoo, Mlumun Hurt, and Philip Igbuan.

One of the victims, Philip Igbuan, suffered a deep machete wound to the head inflicted by the kidnappers and was immediately taken to the General Hospital in Ugbokolo for medical treatment.

The freed passengers have since been debriefed by the Police and Benue Links has arranged transportation to help them reach their original destinations and reunite with their families.

According to accounts from the victims, their abductors were heavily armed and are suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

11 kidnapped Benue Links passengers rescued in Okpokwu

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Crime

Four police officers killed in ambush by suspected herdsmen in Benue

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Four police officers killed in ambush by suspected herdsmen in Benue

By: Zagazola Makama

Atleast four mobile police officers attached to the 12 Police Mobile Force (PMF) unit were killed following an ambush by suspected armed herdsmen in Udei village, Guma Local Government Area.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the officers were on special duty when they came under heavy fire on June 29 while responding to a distress call.

The sources said that the officers were alerted around 2:00 p.m. that a large group of armed men, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, were advancing toward Udei village with a herd of cattle.

“The attackers had approached the vicinity of the primary school in Udei, which serves as a base for the deployed PMF 12 personnel. As the officers moved to intercept them, they were ambushed and attacked with heavy gunfire,” the report stated.

Four officers tragically lost their lives in the attack, and their service weapons were reportedly carted away by the assailants. The deceased officers were identified as: Insp. Samuel Bisalla, Insp. Emmanuel Bitrus, Insp. John Sunday and Insp. Kenneth Gabriel

Two other personnel, ASP Jacob Elisha and Insp. Zakari Bangajiya sustained injuries and was rushed to Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, for medical attention. They are said to be responding to treatment after suffering from exhaustion and shock.

The corpses of the fallen officers have been deposited at the hospital morgue for preservation and medical examination.

In response to the attack, special tactical units and a reinforced team equipped with an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) have been deployed to Udei and the Daudu Divisional Headquarters to forestall further incidents and restore calm in the area.

Four police officers killed in ambush by suspected herdsmen in Benue

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Breaking: Squatters Kill Famous KADVIS Local Commander in Kaduna

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Breaking: Squatters Kill Famous KADVIS Local Commander in Kaduna

By Zagazola Makama

Squatters of a grazing forest by a large community of herders in Kaduna State on Sunday afternoon killed one of the Commanders of Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVIS).

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred in Yardoka Grazing Reserve in Kubau Local Government Area, located in Northern Kaduna Senatorial District.

The slain Commander, identified as Saleh Shuaibu, popularly known as Saleh Fiya-Fiya, who is the KADVIS Commander in Kubau Local Government, was killed when officials of the Kaduna State Government visited the area to carry out a government directive in a grazing reserve located at the said Yardoka forest.

The directive, according to a source in Anchau, the headquarters of the local council, was to allocate over 200 hectares of land to a certain company for investment purposes, a move the squatters are resisting due to lack of payment of compensation, while another source said the squatters have been paid but are still demanding more money.

Another source explained that the government officials arrived in the company of armed policemen along with personnel of the Department of State Services but were barricaded from accessing the reserve.

It was while the impasse was going on that the slain KADVIS alighted from a van and was intervening with the irate community members armed with cutlasses and sticks, while one of the protesters stabbed him with a knife and killed him on the spot. A claim Zagazola Makama is yet to confirm.

Breaking: Squatters Kill Famous KADVIS Local Commander in Kaduna

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