TheNewsGuru

Tag: Benue State

  • Ortom tells Atiku to apologise for lying against him

    Ortom tells Atiku to apologise for lying against him

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to apologise for allegedly lying against him.

    Ortom said this when he received a group, under the aegis of Jemgbagh Youths, on a protest at the Government House, Makurdi, over alleged lies against Ortom by Atiku.

    He stated that Atiku should make a public apology for alleging that his brothers were stealing herdsmen’s cattle in the state.

    “Immediately I heard the news, I sent him a message on WhatsApp and he apologised to me.

    “I told him to make the apology public but he declined, and I am saying he cannot undress an elder like me in public and then come back to dress me in a room.

    “He lied against me and I take exceptions to that because what he said is hate speech,” Ortom said.

    The governor faulted Atiku’s claim that he issued a blanket condemnation of all Fulani people as bad, saying he never said that.

    “Some Fulani people are my friends, I trust them to a point of even taking them to my bedroom and I have not sent any Fulani man away from Benue.

    “It is only the foreign ones that came from Mali, Mauritania among others that are terrorising our people.

    “Atiku, you have been very unfair to Benue people and Fulani people alone cannot make you the president,” he said.

    Ortom said however, that in spite of the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he would work toward its victory at all levels in the state.

    He stated that no matter what happened, a baby cannot be thrown away with the birth water.

    “I am committed to the victory of the party at all levels in the state,” he said.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for condemning the attacks by suspected herdsmen in Gbeji, Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    Earlier, the Chairman of Gboko LGA, Mr Isaac Mtom, said the group visited the governor to identify with him over his developmental strides as well condemn Atiku’s outburst.

    Mtom said Atiku’s statement clearly showed that he did not meant well for Benue people.

  • Breaking: David Mark loses first son, Tunde to cold hands of death

    Breaking: David Mark loses first son, Tunde to cold hands of death

     

    Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) indicate Jonathan Tunde Mark, the first son of former President of the Nigerian Senate, David Mark is dead

    According to a reliable website for Benue State news, says Tunde David Mark died in the United Kingdom (UK) after a protracted battle with unknown ailment.

    Another report said the 51-year-old David Mark first son died of cancer. The report added that Tunde David Mark corpse is expected to be flown back to the country in the coming days for burial.

    It was also gathered that sympathisers have thronged the GRA Otukpo residence of the Okpokpowulu K’Idoma to condole the family over the unfortunate incident.

    Born on the 13th of October 1971 in Otukpo, Benue State, northcentral Nigeria, Tunde attended Yaba Military School which is located in Yaba, Lagos where he obtained his first school leaving certificate. Later he proceeded to Fernden Prep School, Haslemere, Surrey, the UK where he attended Secondary school.

    As at the time of filing this report no official confirmation from the family of the former Senate President, David Mark.

    More details shortly

  • [Video] 2023: I would work for Peter Obi if…- Ortom

    [Video] 2023: I would work for Peter Obi if…- Ortom

    The Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has stated that he would work for, Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi if he was not in PDP.

    He made this known in an interview aired on Channels Television.

    Ortom who recognised the Labour Party, All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the front runners of the 2023 election, said that a country of over two hundred million people deserves better leadership.

    See video below:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Media/News Company (@thenewsgurung)

  • I stand with Wike, PDP not fair to him – Gov. Ortom

    I stand with Wike, PDP not fair to him – Gov. Ortom

    Contrary to an earlier report that he has ditched Governor Nyesom Wike, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has declared that he stands by Wike and that PDP was not just to his counterpart.

    Addressing journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday after a meeting with caucus PDP members from the North West senatorial district known as Zone B, Ortom said nothing would make him abandon the Rivers State Governor.

    The governor declared that he had just returned from London with Wike in the morning of Tuesday and that they remain friends, “And I still maintain my stand on what I said. I haven’t left. I still sympathise with Wike about the injustice meted out to him.

    “Politics is about interest and where your interest is not protected, you have a right to protest, and I think that is what is happening. The party leadership has not been fair to Governor Wike based on activities that took place during and after the convention. We have not been able to adequately deploy the internal conflict mechanism to resolve those issues, and this is all I have been saying.

    Also Read

    PDP crisis: Benue Gov, Ortom denies breaking ties with Gov Wike

    “I sympathise with him and continue to believe that the party’s national leadership should do the same. In politics, nothing can be late, no matter how difficult it may seem, if everybody brings themselves down to the level of others who are aggrieved.

    “And to say that some of us are happy with the injustices that have been meted is not true. We remain committed to the PDP; I feel that the right thing should be done to put us together.”

  • Police rescue 4 kidnap victims in Benue

    Police rescue 4 kidnap victims in Benue

    Police in Benue State have rescued four kidnap victims in Oju Local Government Area of the State.

    Police spokesperson, SP Sewuese Anene stated on Tuesday in Makurdi that the quartet was kidnapped on Sept. 23 on Ijegwu-Opirikwu Road in Obi Local Government Area of the state.

    “The kidnappers yielded to pressure by security operatives and abandoned their victims on Sept. 25 and escaped into a nearby forest.

    “The victims have been reunited with their families,’’ she stated.

    Anene added that Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Wale Abass had deployed more tactical teams to the area to checkmate activities of hoodlums.

    She stated also that Mr Abass advised residents to volunteer useful information to the police on criminals in their neighbourhoods.

  • Floods sack 200 households in Makurdi

    Floods sack 200 households in Makurdi

    Floods have devastated more than 200 households in Makurdi.

    Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Emmanuel Shior, made the declaration in Makurdi on Wednesday at the monthly distribution of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    He listed affected parts of the Benue capital as Naka Road, Achusa Kucha Utebe, Gyado Villa, Judge’s Quarters Extension and parts of Nyiman among others.

    Shior noted that flooding was not this terrible in the state in the past.

    He assured that the state’s Committee on Floods had approved the expansion of selected camps in Makurdi, Guma and Logo to accommodate flood victims.

    He added that recent attacks on some communities in the state had resulted in the displacement of more than 400,000 people.

    He said the state government was catering to the victims and to refugees from Cameroon staying in Kwande Local Government Area of the state.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to assist as the burden was becoming cumbersome for the state government.

    Shior said assailants killed and maimed and also destroyed infrastructures such as markets, churches, and schools in communities attacked.

  • Ortom swears-in 2 new Special Advisers for Benue

    Ortom swears-in 2 new Special Advisers for Benue

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Wednesday, sworn in two new Special Advisers, Mr Simon Namkwagh and Mr Anthony Ibu, with a call on them to justify their appointment.

    Speaking at the ceremony in Makurdi, Ortom urged the appointees to live up to the expectations of the people.

    Represented by his deputy, Mr Benson Abounu, the governor said that the appointment was to enhance the delivery of dividends of democracy for the people.

    “Special Advisers are key officials of government who handle important assignments and carry out activities that promote the smooth running of government particularly the provision of service to the citizenry.

    “In this context therefore, their elevation is not by accident but it is guided by their fine qualities of competence and sound character,” Ortom said.

    He said that his administration had always been guided by fairness, equity and justice in citing projects and political appointments across the state to ensure that every part was carried long.

    He assured of his commitment to secure lives and property in the state, as well ensure welfare for the people.

    “These do not come easy to tackle especially at a time like now where there is shortage of funds national as well as global economic and social problems are confronting states including Benue.

    “When we came in and even as we steer the affairs of the state toward the end of our second mandate, we have remained determined and focused in our key responsibilities as a government.

    “We will never deviate from this responsibility because of our core values which are hinged on transparency, accountability, justice, fairness, integrity, selflessness, humility, dedication, discipline, restitution, forgiveness and reconciliation,” the governor said.

  • Insurgency: Ortom challenges FG to give account of $1bn security fund

    Insurgency: Ortom challenges FG to give account of $1bn security fund

    The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday challenged the Federal Government to give an account of the $1bn security funds jointly put together by the 36 states of the federation to fight insurgency in the country.

    Ortom stated this while addressing journalists at the Government House, Makurdi, shortly before the commencement of the State Security Council meeting.

    The governor wondered what the Federal Government had done with the money that insecurity has continued to escalate in the country.

    Ortom said he had mandated his deputy, Benson Abounu, who represented him at a virtual meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum, to seek clarifications on the matter.

    He said, “What have they done with the $1bn the Governors Forum gave on behalf of the local governments for security? That money is huge. What have they done with the money that terrorists will kidnap citizens without any rescue mission?

    “It is even more worrisome and unthinkable that terrorists will threaten to kidnap our President. If that happens, that means we have no country again.”

    While emphasising that the primary responsibility of any responsible government is to ensure the safety of lives and property, the governor said the situation where innocent Nigerians are left at the mercy of terrorists was unacceptable.

    “We must not allow this to continue, it is very painful to see the country where it is today,” he said.

    The governor affirmed that security issues should be the concern of all, noting that it should not be tailored along political lines as protection of lives and property of citizens ought to be prioritised.

  • Kuje jail break: Police nab fleeing inmate, Ebube in Benue

    Kuje jail break: Police nab fleeing inmate, Ebube in Benue

    The Police Command in Benue has arrested Jude Ebube who escaped during the Kuje jail break.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson on Thursday, SP Sewuese Anene in Makurdi.

    She said that on July 19 at about 3p.m., information was received about one Ebube Igwe Jude, a fugitive who had arrived Makurdi as a result of Kuje jail break.

    Anene said that the detectives deployed to investigate the case arrested him at George Akume way in Makurdi.

    “During investigation, he confessed to have escaped from Kuje Correctional Centre during the jail break.

    “He stated further that he is an awaiting trial inmate, standing trial in a case of culpable homicide involving his girlfriend,” Anene said.

    She further said that the command had begun processes to hand him over to the Nigeria Correctional Service for necessary actions.

    Reps to investigate attack on Kuje correctional centre

    Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the attack on the Nigerian  Correctional Medium Security Custodial Centre (NCSMSCC) in Kuje.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Sha’aban Sharada (APC-Kano) at the plenary in Abuja, on Thursday, following the recent attack on Kuje Prison by suspected terrorists.

    It would be recalled that on July 5, 2022, terrorists attacked the NCSMSCC in Kuje, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

    Sharada expressed worry that the development made the country and the FCT  in particular,  vulnerable and under the fear of attacks, risk, intimidation and all sorts of threats.

    He said this was due to large number of criminal escapees in the country.

    He raised concerns over enormous resources expended by the Federal Government toward ensuring public security and welfare.

    He expressed worries that the Kuje custodial centre attack and its terrible outcome along with several related crimes against national security were on the increase.

    This, he said, was despite stakeholders commitment toward equipping the
    national security enforcement and intelligence community with significant appropriation of funds.

    He said that public peace and safety would continue to be threatened if urgent steps were not taken to address the situation.

    The house therefore, urged the Federal Government to implement the laudable recommendations of the National Security Summit organised by the leadership of the House of Representatives in 2021.

    The house said that this came with broad national stakeholder participation.

    The house mandated the Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Interior, Reformatory Services, Defence, Army, Airforce and Navy to investigate the causes.

    The house also urged the committee to look at the dimensions and effects of the unfortunate Kuje custodial centre attack and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

  • Police Sergeant arrested for culpable homicide

    Benue State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one of its sergeants, Sgt. James Aondona, in connection with culpable homicide, in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of the state.

     

    It was gathered that on June 26, the police officer was briefed on his schedule of duty and posted to an observation point at Ngibo, Kastina-Ala Local Government Area.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) learned that the police officer engaged in an altercation with one Mr. Aondohumba Terkula, whom he allegedly shot and killed.

     

    In another development, an Ado-Ekiti High Court has sentenced four men, Babangida Amodu, 25, Oluwafemi Ibrahim, 20, Ojo Ayodele, 25, and Okunato Dada, 20, convicted of armed robbery and murder, to die by hanging.

     

    The four men, who were arraigned on October 4, 2018, on charges of conspiracy, armed robbery and murder, had pleaded not guilty, and the court ordered their remand.

     

    Delivering judgment, Justice John Adeyeye said, ”It is obvious that the defendants acted in concert as they all agreed to rob Ibrahim Isiaka and Mohammed Sanusi, who died as a result of the injury inflicted on him during the robbery.

     

    “Each of the defendants is cautioned and discharged on count one (conspiracy), and sentenced to death by hanging until they be dead on count two (armed robbery) and count three (murder).

     

    “May the Lord have mercy on your souls,” the Judge pronounced.

     

    According to the charge, the four convicts on June 7, 2018, at Ijoka Area of Ado Ekiti, within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired and robbed one Ibrahim Isiaka of his phone and N1,500 while armed with guns and knives.

     

    The charge sheet further said that on the same day, date and aforementioned place, the convicts murder one Muhammed Sanusi.

     

    The offences, Mr Felix Awoniyi, the prosecuting counsel said, contravened sections 516, 402 (2) and 316 of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

     

    Awoniyi during the trial called five witnesses and tendered statements of the four convicts and medical report as exhibits.

     

    Ibrahim Isiaka, a prosecution witness, who was led in evidence by Awoniyi, recalled that he and the deceased were going to buy food and charge their phones near the mosque at Ijoka, at 7:45pm, when the defendants attacked them.

     

    “We were approaching the charging centre, some hoodlums just appeared and stopped us, they demanded for our phones and money.

     

    “We declined their requests and they dragged me and collected my Techno phone valued N7,500 and cash sum of N1,500.”

     

    “When they started beating Sanusi, I ran away to call our people, but before we got there, they had left.

     

    “We met the deceased in a pool of blood; having been stabbed on the neck.”