Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Benue state

  • 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.

  • NUJ Benue State Council Dedicated to God

    NUJ Benue State Council Dedicated to God

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Benue Council was today dedicated to God to intervene in the numerous challenges bedeviling it.

    In a brief sermon at the aforementioned ceremony held at the NUJ Secretariat, Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Theophilus Hwande, implored the leadership of the union to serve God by rendering service to humanity.

    “The only way to serve God is to serve humanity. This tool is a point of service to humanity. God will judge you base on the people you have conscientiously served”, he counseled.

    The Clergy who prayed for the leadership of the union, also prayed against the spirit of death in the state council. He prayed for current members of the State Working Committee, SWC, of the union to find favor with God.

    It would be recalled that, NUJ, Benue State Council has lost two of its Chairmen in less than two years, hence the need to dedicate it to the Lord for His mercy.

    Responding, the State Acting Chairman, NUJ, Benue State Council, Comr. Martins Kajo appreciated the Cleric for accepting to dedicate the union into God’s hands.

  • Benue State has no plans to Repeal Anti Open Grazing Law – Gov Ortom

    Benue State has no plans to Repeal Anti Open Grazing Law – Gov Ortom

    From Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has declared that the present administration will not Repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law despite threats and intimidations from herders. 

    The Governor who made the declaration through the Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu while briefing Newsmen at the Government House Makurdi on Wednesday reiterated that Benue has no plans to revise the aforementioned law.

    Continuing,  Ortom hinted that there is heavy deployment of Herders with their cattles into the state, a situation he described as worrisome. He lamented that the Herders were heavily armed. 

    According to the Governor, the anti open grazing law has come to stay, stating that “Benue has its laws and we have been keeping to these laws. He described the law as effective. 

    The Governor contended that six herdsmen have been arrested and handed over to security agents for prosecution, while four hundred cattles have been impounded by the Benue State Livestock Guards for breaching the law.

    He urged herders to adopt the global best way of rearing livestock, which is Ranching if they must operate in the state. ” If you want to rear your cattles in Benue, you must abide by the law. What we are against is open grazing”, Ortom emphasized. 

    The Governor drew the attention of the general public to the recent statement credited to the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Sule, that Herders were re-grouping in the state, which attracted reactions from different quarters, including the Presidency.

  • Cholera claims 26 lives in Benue State, 195 hospitalized

    Cholera claims 26 lives in Benue State, 195 hospitalized

    By Isaac Kertyo Makurdi

    No fewer than twenty six persons have been reportedly died of Cholera in Benue State since its outbreak in the state, Commissioner  for Health and Human Services, Dr. Joseph Ngbea has said. 

    Ngbea who made this declaration in an interview in Makurdi explained that fourteen persons have died of the disease in Agatu, seven in Makurdi and five in Guma Local Government Areas respectively.

    The Commissioner further noted that Benue State recorded a total of one hundred and ninety five suspected cases of which one hundred and eleven were from Agatu, fifty nine from Guma, fifteen from Gwer and ten from Makurdi Local Government Areas.

    Ngbea assured that medical teams were on ground to carry out their responsibilities of treating patients as well as enlightening the public on best hygiene practices.

    He cautioned the people residing along riverine areas against drinking water from conterminated sources, even as he enjoined them to improve on sanitation and hygiene practices to combat the epidemic.

  • FG launches $ 200 million World Bank IDEAS projects in Benue State

    FG launches $ 200 million World Bank IDEAS projects in Benue State

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    The Federal Government has said the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) projects would enhance the capacity of  the Nigerian Youths in relevant skills.

    National Coordinator of the projects, Mrs Blessings Ogwu who stated this on Wednesday at a workshop for North Central Officers of the projects in Makurdi, maintained that Two Hundred Million Dollars have been given to Nigeria for the period of 5 years to support federal and states technical colleges in the country.

    Her words: ” IDEAS is a Word Bank Assisted Projects initiated by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education with the objective of enhancing the capacity of the Nigerian Youths in relevant skills in formal and informal sectors in order to address unemployment in the country”.

    She called the Benue State Government and other relevant stakeholders to key into the projects in order to equip the youths with the required skills. 

    Also speaking, Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom, stressed that collaboration between the federal government and the World Bank to implement the IDEAS projects was sacrosanct, adding that it would bridge the gap between educational institutions’ products and industry demand for labor force.

    The Governor who  spoke through his Principal Special Assistant on Rural Development, Dr Azer Abya stated that the major challenge confronting the nation was high rate of unemployment, pointing out that Benue State Government is ready to partner any organization towards achieving technical and vocational training.

    He assured that his administration is determined to impact the lives of the teeming youths through programs and innovations that would create jobs for them.