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Tag: Benue state

  • Again, Gunmen kill two Farmers in Benue State

    Again, Gunmen kill two Farmers in Benue State

    … as Youths Barricaded Makurdi-Lafia High way with Dead Bodies

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Youths in Benue State have Barricaded the Makurdi-Lafia high way to protest the killing of two Farmers at Tse Tule, Yerwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State by Suspected Militia Herders.

    Yerwata is a border town between Benue and Nassarawa States.

    The victims who were twins, Terfa and Mathew Igbian were allegedly massacred while on their way to the farm at 9.30 in the morning.

    In a related development, Mr Akume Ityo was also murdered by alleged stray bullets from Men of Operation Whirl Stroke while heading to the scene of the incident to maintain law and order.

    Day Break learned that the youths of the area used the dead bodies and blocked the Makurdi-Lafia high way to protest the aforementioned Killings.

    It was gathered that men of the Operation Whirl Stroke from Udey on getting information about the protest, swiftly moved to the area to disperse the rampaging youths.

    Efforts to contact the Spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Sewuese Anene for comments proved abortive as she could not be reached.

  • Reps to investigate fresh killings by ‘armed herders’ in Benue

    Reps to investigate fresh killings by ‘armed herders’ in Benue

    The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate killings in communities in Benue State by suspected herdsmen.

    Following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Mark Gbillah on Wednesday, the green chamber resolved to embark on the probe.

    Also, the Ministry of Defence and Army were mandated to deploy more personnel and resources to the operation whirl stroke currently operating in the region.

    Gbillah said 17 persons were killed by suspected herdsmen in Mbamondu area of the state on Sunday.

    He said in Gwer West, Guma, Agatu and Markurdi, over 70 people have been murdered over the past 3weeks.

    Gbillah also queried the efficiency of the operation whirl stroke in the region, saying the military has failed to stop attacks on the communities despite the presence of the military.

    He alleged that the killings are linked to the anti-open grazing law of the Benue state government.

    Other resolutions by the House include; mandating the committees on Army and Police Affairs to investigate allegations that police refused to support the state government in the enforcement of the anti-grazing law.

    The lawmakers also asked the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the displaced persons.

    The House also urged the federal government to improve the situation of IDP camps across the country.

  • Benue Police confirm attacks on communities in Gwer West LG

    Benue Police confirm attacks on communities in Gwer West LG

    The Police in Benue have confirmed attacks by unknown gunmen on communities in Gwer West Local Government Area of the State.

    We had earlier reported that gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen earlier attacked Tse Amgbem community near Aondoana in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred on Monday morning when the assailants invaded the community.

    Also, an eyewitness told journalists that 11 persons were slaughtered, while others sustained different degree of injuries.

    Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Catherine Anene, said the command was yet to receive full details of the incident.

    Anene said that the attack was carried out on Mbamondu and Vengav, in Avihijime council ward in Udam and Tse Amgbem close to Aondona, all in Gwer West Local Government on Monday.

    She, however, said that the Command was also yet to get full details of the attack on the communities and number of casualties.

  • No Amount of Intimidation Would make Benue State repeal Open Grazing Prohibition – Gov Ortom

    No Amount of Intimidation Would make Benue State repeal Open Grazing Prohibition – Gov Ortom

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has declared that no amount of Intimidation Would make the state to repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.

    The Governor who made the declaration at the inauguration of Constituency projects executed by a Member of the Benue State House of Assembly, representing Uju ll, Hon Okanga Okpanya.

    Ortom who spoke through the Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, Hon Ekpe Ogbu averred thus: ” The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law has come to stay.”

    Continuing he noted that “no amount of intimidation as reflected in the renewed killings accompanied by the sarcastic reaction from the Presidency would make the state repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law.”

    The Governor applauded the people of the state over their continued support and prayers. He urged them to sustain their support and prayers to the present administration to enable it overcome daunting challenges confronting it.

    Ortom lauded the Legislator over execution of people oriented projects for members of his Constituency, stressing that the projects were targeted at improving the well-being of his constituents.

  • BECCIMA Condemns Killing of seven Internally Displaced Persons in Benue State by Suspected Militia Herders

    BECCIMA Condemns Killing of seven Internally Displaced Persons in Benue State by Suspected Militia Herders

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BECCIMA) has condemned in its entirety the recent gruesome murder of over seven Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, at the Abagena camp, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State by Suspected Herdsmen Militia.

    In a statement by its President, Dr Paul Ubwa lamented that the killings in Benue State have become a recurring decimal with the security forces seem to be helpless and incapable of forestalling the wanton killing of innocent citizens.

    Ubwa urged President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action in directing the security agents to bring the killers and their sponsors to justice.

    His words: ” We call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the command structure of the Armed Forces to expedite action in bringing to book the suspected Herdsmen and their sponsors”.

    The President implored security operatives to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are unearthed and made to face the wrath of the law.

    According to Ubwa, the attacks coming at the onset of the cropping season, seems to discourage farmers from working on their farmlands with the aim of destroying Benue State agrarian economy.

    The President who commiserated with Governor Samuel Ortom and the people of the state over the killings, lauded the Governor for his instant response at the onset of the incident, even as he implored him not to relent in his Sterling efforts to defend the people of Benue State.

    Ubwa enjoined Benue people devoid of political affiliations to close ranks in support of the Governor to tackle the myriad of security issues confronting the state.

  • Police Shot Dead three Bandits in Benue State

    Police Shot Dead three Bandits in Benue State

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi 

    Police in Benue State have killed three suspected Bandits who have been terrorising the Sankera axis comprising, Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas of the state.

    The Police Public Relation’s Officer PPRO, Benue State Command, DSP Sewuese Anene who disclosed this in a statement explained that the Police raided a camp believed to be bandits’ hide out during a tip off. 

    The Police Spokesperson contended that there was gunfire between the Police and bandits which lasted for several hours, adding that three of the suspected criminals were arrested with bullets wounds.

    According to Anene the three bandits were rushed to the hospital where they were confirmed dead, stressing that their corpses have been deposited at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi.

    She maintained that the Police recovered from the bandits, two AK47 rifles with 29 round of ammunitions, cutlasses and charms among other items.

    DSP Anene pointed out that efforts were being stepped up to arrest others. She implored the people of the area to cooperate with the Police by giving them useful information to enable the Police arrest the fleeing criminals

  • Army Reprisal Attack: BNSG Approves Funds for Internally Displaced Persons to Ameliorate their Sufferings

    Army Reprisal Attack: BNSG Approves Funds for Internally Displaced Persons to Ameliorate their Sufferings

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Disturbed by the state of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, occasioned by the Nigerian Army’s reprisal attack on some communities in Konshisha Local Government Area, Benue State Government has approved funds to ameliorate their sufferings.

    Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, in Benue State, Mr Emmanuel Shior gave this indication on Wednesday at the maiden state level coordinating meeting of IDPs and refugees situation in the state organized by ,SEMA in collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees held in Makurdi.

    He stated that the gesture would be extended to the victims of the tanker explosion in Oshogbudu in Agatu Local Government which claimed several lives as well as property worth millions of naira destroyed.

    The Executive Secretary lamented that due to the recent attacks on some communities in Gwer-west and Makurdi Local Government Areas, flood in Logo and communal clashes between Konshisha and Oju Local Government Areas, the state was overwhelmed with the IDPs challenge.

    Shior applauded the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and other partners for their humanitarian intervention. He enjoined them to sustain their support.

  • Chinese Expatriates yet to Regain Freedom from their Abductors, as BNSG Begins Negotiation with Militia Group

    Chinese Expatriates yet to Regain Freedom from their Abductors, as BNSG Begins Negotiation with Militia Group

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    The Chinese Expatriates who were kidnapped last Wednesday at the Symmentary Trading Company Limited at Alabaa in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State by unknown gunmen are yet to regain freedom from their Abductors.

    Findings by Day Break showed that the where about of the aforementioned Expatriates is yet to be ascertained as no communication has been established between the kidnappers and relations of the Abductees.

    It was further learned that there has been no demand for payment of ransom from the kidnappers since this incident occurred as at the time of filing this report.

    Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Ukum Local Government Council, Mr Steve Ayua who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Timothy Vihimga in a chat told Day Break that the Expatriates were yet to be released.

    His words: “the Expatriates who were abducted are yet to be released”, adding that their is no latest development on the incident.

    When contacted for update on the incident, the Police Spokesperson, Benue State Command, DSP Sewuese Anene told our Correspondent that She still await reports from the Police team of investigators.

    “I am still waiting for report from the team of investigators”, Anene said. The PPRO noted that a team of Police Officers are currently on the trail of the kidnappers to ensure the release of the Expatriates.

    It could be recalled that gunmen last Wednesday shot dead two Police Officers who were attached to the Expatriates, a Chinese Engineer and kidnapped two Expatriates at Alabaa in Ukum Local Government Area and took them to an unknown destination.

    Informed sources told Day Break that the gunmen had laid ambush at the construction site of the company where they opened fire on sighting them, and it was in the process of trying to save the lives of the Expatriates that both the Police Officers and a Chinese Engineer lost their lives.

    Meanwhile, the Benue State Government has begun negotiation with the Militia Group in the Sankera axis of the state where banditry is hitherto the order of the day with the aim to restore peace in the area.

    Towards this end, the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom last week met with the Militia Group from Katsina-Ala in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area. He was represented at the meeting by the former Ambassador, Chive Kaave.

    Day Break’s checks revealed that the Militia Group at the meeting demanded among other things, official hand over of revenue collection points to them by government, release of the corpse of the late Militia Leader, Mr Terwase Akwaza otherwise referred to as Gana for burial in exchange for seize fire.

  • Gov Ortom Condemns Killing of Priest in Benue State, vows assailants will face wrath of law

    Gov Ortom Condemns Killing of Priest in Benue State, vows assailants will face wrath of law

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has condemned the gruesome murder of Reverend Father Ferdinand Nguban of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Aye-Twar village in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State by yet to be identified gunmen.

    The Governor who expressed dismay over the aforementioned heinous act wondered why a harmless Priest would become the target of the armed militia.

    Ortom who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase, reassured the people of Katsina-Ala and Sankera as a whole that the State Government would ensure that those responsible for the killing and other attacks in that part of the state are apprehended and made to face the Law.

    The Governor reaffirmed the resolve of the present administration not to handover the state to criminals, even as he implored Benue people to continue to support security operatives with timely and useful information to enable them tackle insecurity more efficiently.

    He sympathized with the deceased’s family and prayed to God to grant the soul of Rev. Fr. Nguban eternal rest.

  • Gunmen Attack Church, Kill Priest, Parishioners in Benue State

    Gunmen Attack Church, Kill Priest, Parishioners in Benue State

    By Isaac Kertyo Makurdi

    Barely a week after gunmen attacked and killed traders at the Abaji market in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, armed Militiamen yesterday attacked St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Aye-Twar village, Agu center, Katsina-Ala and murdered a Priest, Reverend Father Nguban Fanen along side other Parishioners.

    The Police Public Relation’s Officer, Benue State Command, DSP Sewuese Anene while confirming the incident disclosed that the late Priest was shot dead at his parish house and not during church service.

    The Police Spokesperson hinted that the corpse of the deceased Rev. Fr. has been deposited at General Hospital Katsina-Ala.

    He maintained that a joint operation of Police and other security operatives have been deployed to the area and are currently on the trail of the hoodlums.

    Day Break learned that the armed Militiamen who are over 2000 in number are on a revenge mission over what they termed as betrayal by some stakeholders of the area which led to the killing of the Militia gang leader, Mr Terwase Akwaza otherwise referred to as Gana.

    The bandits who are currently rocking the Sankera axis comprising Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas have vowed to make the place ungovernable.