Tag: Benue State

How 2 Benue govt. officials withdrew N23bn from State Accounts – EFCC

Aminu Imam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has arrested two Benue State officials over their involvement in the over-the-counter withdrawal of N23 billion. It was gathered that the two officials are a Director of Finance and Accounts in the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Gbaigyo Emmanuel, and a cashier, in the Benue State Bureau for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs,Andoor Festus. The suspicious withdrawals, according to EFCC documents, were made in cash over-the-counter from eight bank accounts operated by four agencies of the Benue State Government. A senior…

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Benue: Ortom reacts as NAF security personnel allegedly prevents him from receiving Osinbajo

Aminu Imam

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has condemned in very strong terms the action of security personnel at the main entrance of Air Force Base in Makurdi, the State capital. It was gathered that the governor was yesterday allegedly denied entrance at the gate of the Nigerian Air Force Base by security personnel on his way to receive Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The Vice President was on his way to Wukari, Taraba State, en route to Benue State to attend the convocation of the Federal University, Wukari. Speaking to newsmen shortly…

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Woman impregnated twice by her twin brother insists on marrying him

Aminu Imam

A 29-year-old native of Guma local government area of Nasarawa State, Amos Kunde, who impregnated his twin sister, Juliana, twice which resulted in two babies, has decided to get married to a new wife, but his twin sister is totally opposing his decision. According to reports, the twin parents lived in Awe LGA of Nasarawa State as farmers until the couple and other relations were killed during the farmers/herders crisis in State in 2013. The twins, however, survived the attacks because some merciful ones among the herdsmen who attacked their community decided…

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‘Fulanisation’ of Nigeria theory: “Ortom not the propounder, but proponent” – Benue Tiv group

Aminu Imam

A group in Benue State under the aegis of MINDA (Masev, Ihyarev, Nongov Development Association), Strategic Contact Group (MSCG), has lamented that the state governor Samuel Ortom was being villified for being the propounder of the theory of the Fulani “revival of the1804 Sokoto Jihad” as well as the “Islamisation and Fulanisation” of Nigeria. The group however argued that the State governor, Samuel Ortom, did not propound the theories, but rather, he has always been an advocate of actions to be taken to address the farmers/herders conflict. MSCG, a self-acclaimed…

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Benue: Gov Ortom institutes N60 billion suit against Akume for libel

Aminu Imam

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom yesterday instituted a N60 billion suit against Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, at the Makurdi High Court. In the suit, filed by Okon N. Efut, (SAN) and four other lawyers, Gov. Ortom is seeking N50 billion as general damages for libel and N10 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages. The writ of summons was backed by a 17-paragraph statement of claim. In the statement of claim, Governor Ortom is seeking a declaration that the text of Senator Akume’s press conference…

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Insecurity: Akume, APC leaders demand state of emergency in Benue

Aminu Imam

Minister for Special Duties, George Akume and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Benue have urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the State. Akume, who spoke on behalf of APC leaders in the State at a media briefing in Abuja, on Monday, said that the call was hinged on the fact that Governor Samuel Ortom had lost control of the security situation in the State. The party leaders condemned what it described as the governor’s “penchant for verbally attacking” the President, Muhammadu…

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NDLEA arrests local gun manufacturer with G3 rifle, 78 rounds of live ammunition in Benue

Aminu Imam

The Benue State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has arrested a man with a fabricated high calibre G3 rifle and 78 rounds of live ammunition. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Chairman, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), said the suspect was arrested on August 4, in a bus en route Jos from Onitsha, after the vehicle was flagged down at Aliade checkpoint for search. According to him, the checkpoint was to stop and search vehicles for drugs; however, he noted that the…

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‘We’ll give lands to Fulani herdsmen’ – Ortom

Aminu Imam

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue has said lands are available for Fulani herdsmen who want to ranch their cattle in the State. Ortom disclosed this on the 72nd birthday of a former Nigeria Ambassador to Mexico, Iyorwuese Hagher. The Commissioner for Education, Dennis Ityayvar, represented him at the event. According to him, Benue people are historical friends of the Fulani. Ityayvar said, “His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom has explained again and again that we, Benue people, are not against Fulani; we’re still friends. “Any Fulani person who wants to establish…

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Just In: Gunmen kill Ortom’s aide in Plateau

Aminu Imam

Gunmen have killed a Senior Special Assistant to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Security, AIG Christopher Dega (rtd). It was gathered that the governor’s aide was killed in Jos, the Plateau State capital. The retired police officer was said to have been killed on Tuesday when he was reportedly shot several times in the chest. The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terver Akase, confirmed the death of the retired AIG. Also, the Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau, Ubah Ogaba, who confirmed his killing in a statement in…

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Benue: Gunmen kill nine in Makurdi

Aminu Imam

Some unidentified gunmen have attacked Agan community, in Makurdi local government area of Benue State on Friday, leaving nine persons dead. One of the locals, Terkimbi Shom, told newsmen, yesterday, that nobody knew where the attackers came from. “These attacks are becoming too frequent. This is the second time in less than three weeks that the attackers launched attacks on our community. We hardly sleep well nowadays for fear of attacks. “I appeal to the Federal Government to please send security operatives to our area to safeguard our lives as…

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