Tag: Benue

Tribunal upholds 3APC State Assembly Members in Benue

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The National/State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Makurdi, on Thursday upheld the elections of three All Progressives Congress (APC) state lawmakers. In separate judgments, Justice Usman Mohammed and Justice Saliu Zubayr, held that the petitioners failed to prove their cases for the elections to be upturned. In the Ogbadibo State Constituency election, Justice Mohammed held that the petitioners, Patrick Enemari and the PDP, failed to prove that the election was characterised by malpractices, as alleged in their petition. He also said the petitioners failed to call necessary…

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Kidnappers ambush two Lagos-bound buses in Kogi, abduct 10 passengers

Aminu Imam

Suspected armed men have reportedly hijacked two fully loaded buses belonging to the Benue state government-owned transport company, whisking away over 10 passengers from the Lagos-bound vehicles that took off from Makurdi, Benue State. According to reports, the armed men waylaid the vehicles at about 2 p.m. on Sunday, along Ajaokuta-Okene road in Kogi State. The Benue State Commissioner for Power, Energy, and Transport, Omale Omale, who confirmed the abduction, said the incident happened while the two buses, branded as ‘Benue Links Transport’, were approaching Okene, Kogi State. The commissioner…

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Benue: Protesting women block Makurdi/Abuja highway over herdsmen attack

Aminu Imam

Protesting Benue women mounted a roadblock on Makurdi/Lafia/Abuja federal highway yesterday, following the reported killing of five people by suspected herders. According to a local who simply identified himself as Sunny, five people were killed in separate attacks by suspected herdsmen in two communities in the Guma local government area of Benue State. Sunny, who spoke on phone, said that three people were killed Thursday night at Ngban, and another two at Nyian. Confirming the report, the security officer of Guma Local Government, Christopher Waku, said that five people were…

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Election: Clerics, NUJ caution Journalists against sensationalism, devisive reportage

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Stakeholders at NUJ conference in Makurdi

Rev. Fr Patrick Alumuku, Director of Communication, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, has urged media practitioners to shun sensational reportage that would compromise security before, during and after the general elections. Alumuku made the appeal at a zonal conference organised by Zone ‘D’ of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Thursday in Makurdi. The conference was on ‘The Role of the Media in enhancing peaceful election and democratic participation’. Alumuku who is also the Director Catholic Television of Nigeria, said the call was imperative in view of the nexus between…

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Bandits kill 8 close to IDP Camp in Benue

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Bandits attacked a community opposite the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Abagena, Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue and killed eight persons including women and children. An eyewitness told newsmen that eight other persons were seriously injured and were evacuated to a hospital for treatment. “Some of the victims were beheaded and their heads taken away. The bushes are still being combed in search of more victims. “A man, his wife and four children were all wiped out in the attack. “The casualty figure may likely rise as three…

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2023: Group writes Buhari, NSA on haunting of political opponents

Aminu Imam

…Says Benue ‘militia’ Guards could become another Boko Haram President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, have been told to probe the activities of the Benue State Volunteer Guards. A group, the ‘Benue Coalition on Human Rights’ made this known in a letter to the President, IGP, National Security Adviser and heads of other security agencies.   In the petition, co-signed by its President and Secretary General, Rev. Solomon Semaka and Patriot Okwori Onaji, the group alleged that the Benue Guards were being used to intimidate…

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Gov Ortoms orders arrest of Journalist Odeh for criticizing his poor security strategy in Benue

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Benue State Government has ordered the arrest and taken to Makurdi, the State capital, a senior journalist with Peoples Daily newspaper, Sunday Ode over an alleged offensive statement issued on behalf of the Association of Igede Media. Professionals.Ode, who is the President of the association, was picked up today, May 1, allegedly on the order of Governor Samuel Ortom.A statement by Egah Egiri for the association, said Ode was arrested yesterday, April 30, at Karu by armed policemen and DSS operatives.The association said that the security operatives said that they…

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Benue APC to sanction critics of Buni-led Caretaker Committee

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue chapter has given Okpoku Ogenyi 24 hours to withdraw the allegations he made against the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) or be sanctioned. Abba Yaro, the chapter’s chairman said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. Ogenyi, a member of the party from Benue, had at a press conference on Friday, alleged that the Buni-led APC caretaker committee was planning to elongate its tenure. Ogenyi, who spoke for Concerned APC Members Forum, also said that the…

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Gunmen attack Benue community, kill 13

Ishaku Yohanna

No fewer than 13 persons were reportedly killed when gunmen attacked the Edikwu community in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State. The incident, according to locals, happened between 4am and 5am on Monday. A local, who simply identified himself as Elvis, said the attack might not be unconnected to a chieftaincy title. Elvis said, “There has been a lingering crisis in the community for sometimes now. One of the royal families had disagreed with the choice of the kingmakers of the community who elected the late Chief Imoni…

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Troops kill kidnap kingpin, rescue 32 hostages in Benue

Ishaku Yohanna

The Defence Headquarters said on Friday troops of Operation Whirl Stroke had killed a notorious kidnap kingpin, Zwa Ikyegh, in Benue State. The Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, Major Gen. John Enenche, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, said the kidnap kingpin was killed at Tomayin village in Logo local government area of the state Thursday. He said the troops also rescued 32 hostages during the operation, adding that some suspected kidnappers escaped with gunshot wounds. The statement read: “Following credible intelligence on the activities of a…

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