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Tag: Benue

  • Police arrest medical doctor with 3 abducted children

    Police arrest medical doctor with 3 abducted children

    The Police Command in Benue on Sunday said a medical doctor has been arrested in Rivers over the disappearance of three children from Benue.

    The medical doctor, whose name was not given, was arrested by the police in Rivers following an alert on the missing children.

    A statement signed by the command spokesman, SP Sewuese Anene in Makurdi, said that the children were found in the doctor’s custody in Rumuokoro.

    Anene said the Command had on Sept. 24, received a complaint from one Mr Godwin Kpaakpa of Badagry Street, Opposite St. Peters Church Wurukum, Makurdi that two of his children were missing.

    Anene said that the children, Philomena and Benedict, were aged six and about two years.

    She said the command commenced an investigation and sent a signal nationwide, adding that the two children and one other were recovered in the hands of the doctor during an operation.

    “On Oct. 20, information was received from Rivers Police Command that in the course of an operation at, Rumuokoro area, they rescued three children from a medical doctor that seem to be the same children earlier reported by Benue Command.

    “A team of detectives was sent to Rivers state for identification and other necessary actions.

    “Fortunately, the two children were identified alongside one other child, Godsgift Julius, whose parents are yet to be identified.

    “Philomena and Benedict have been reunited with their family while Godsgift is yet to connect with his family.

    “The medical doctor is being investigated by Rivers Command while efforts are being made to locate his accomplices in Benue,” she added.

    The Command spokesperson advised parents to monitor the movement of their children to save them from human traffickers.

  • BREAKING: Kidnappers kill, bury ex-Benue LG chairman, Washima Erukaa

    BREAKING: Kidnappers kill, bury ex-Benue LG chairman, Washima Erukaa

    Notorious kidnappers have killed Elder Washima Erukaa, a former chairman of Katsina-Ala and Ukum local government areas of Benue State,

    Erukaa, 80, was abducted from his home in Zakibiam, Ukum LGA, on September 23, 2023.

    According to reports, the kidnappers had communicated Erukaa’s passing to his family and said they have since buried him.

    “One of the abductors informed a member of the family that Erukaa died while in captivity and had been buried,” a source said.

    It was gathered that the abductors had initially demanded a sum of N12 million ransom for his release.

    “They subsequently reduced their demand to N5 million, but tragically, his life was taken before the ransom could be paid,” the source added.

  • Man stabs wife to death in Benue

    Man stabs wife to death in Benue

    The Police Command in Benue has confirmed the arrest of one Matthew Bem for stabbing his wife to death during a fight in Korinya, Konshisha Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state, on Tuesday.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.

    Anene said the victim, Mngusonun Bem, was stabbed by her husband during an argument and she died shortly afterward.

    “He was fighting with his wife and he stabbed her during the fight and she died.”

    She said Mr Bem was arrested and is in Police custody, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

  • Police ban protests in Benue

    Police ban protests in Benue

    The Police Command in Benue on Sunday warned that it would not approve any form of protest in the state for the time being.

    This is contained in a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi.

    Anene said that the command was in the know of a planned protest by a group of persons in the state.

    He stated that the planned protest was a ploy to sabotage efforts of the security agencies to manage the present fragile security situation in Benue.

    The police spokesperson said that any protest at this time would avail hoodlums and other criminal minded persons an opportunity to cause mayhem.

    Anene appealed to the ‘intending protesters’ to refrain from such actions as the environment was not conducive for any protest.

    He said, “Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) have been directed to tighten up security in their areas of responsibility and resist any efforts of protesters to encourage any breach of peace.

    “Stakeholders including; traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth leaders and parents are advised to warn their children/wards to desist from any form of protest at this sensitive time.”

    Anene assured the people of the state of the command’s commitment to fight crime and enjoined the people to avail useful and timely information to the police for prompt action.

    Aside from the recurring crimes in the state, daredevil armed robbers on Friday attacked Otukpo Divisional Police Station and robbed five banks within the same period.

    No fewer than nine persons, including a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and three other Police Officers were killed during the dastardly operation that lasted for over two hours.

    NAN

  • How armed robbers raided three banks in Benue state – Eye witnesses reveal

    How armed robbers raided three banks in Benue state – Eye witnesses reveal

    Few persons have been reporteed killed during a robbery incident in Otukpo, Benue state on Friday.

    It was  gathered that the gunmen invaded several banks in Otukpo at about 3 pm on Friday, shooting sporadically.

    According to an eye witness account, who simply gave his name as Sunday told journalist that gunmen operated for almost three hours without any security intervention.

    He said “Armed robbers have taken over everywhere in Otukpo. They are just shooting whoever they see.

    “Currently, they are robbing Zenith bank and they been here for more than three hours”, he said.

    According to another eyewitness, the robbers had attacked the Otukpo Police Station before their operation, firing indiscriminately and disarming all the policemen before proceeding with the robbery.

    The incident caused panic in the traditional headquarters of the Idoma nation, as residents, especially traders, were seen fleeing to safety.

    Findings also show that more than two banks were raided by the bank during the robbery operation that last for few hours

    The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene Sewuese could not be reached as of the time of filing this report

  • Benue uncovers 600 govt bank accounts

    Benue uncovers 600 govt bank accounts

    The Benue Government, says it discovered over 600 banks accounts operated by the immediate past administration.

    The State Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, Mr. Michael Oglegba, said this was contrary to the 25 bank accounts the administration was shown on assumption of office.

    The Commissioner said this on Tuesday when members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a courtesy visit in Makurdi.

    Oglegba said that the government uncovered the extra accounts from the information obtained through the Nigerian Inter Bank System.

    Oglegba said Gov. Hyacinth Alia had frozen all government accounts after taking over to enable the government understand what was on ground.

    “When we came in, we asked for the accounts and bank statements and we were presented with about 25 bank accounts.

    “A causal look at the Nigerian Inter Bank System showed that Benue Government has more than 600 accounts.

    “So the Governor needed to freeze those accounts to know exactly what was happening,” he added.

    Oglegba Gov. Alia has been able to reduce the state wage bill following ongoing audit of the system, adding that the process was still ongoing and actual figures would be announced when completed.

    On the state’s debt profile, he said both the state and local governments have a cumulative debt of over N359 billion.

    “The debts owed by the State itself was in excess of N200 billion. This includes local and foreign debts.

    “However, the LGAs also have their own debts, unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities and local contractors that made up the other N150 billion.

    “The Alia administration has no reason to lie about the State debts.

    “We will be doing ourselves a great disservice if we say we own monies that we do not own. When we need loans for example who will give us?”

    The commissioner further disclosed that the handing over notes from the immediate past administration indicated that there were 19,000 pupils and 16,000 teacher, but which do not exist physically.

    He said that by the figure presented by the previous administration, it meant that the state has one pupil to one teacher ratio, which was false.

    Oglegba said the Alia administration has done so much within its five months in office without borrowing to meet its financial obligations.

    He said he has embarked on the construction of 16 township roads in Makurdi, installation of street lights, rehabilitation and remodeling of the state Assembly complex, and renovation of the state Secretariat, among others.

    He added that the government had also paid five months salaries in the last four months while all contractors handling government projects have been paid without collecting any loan.

    The commissioner urged members of the correspondents chapel to always be objective and ensure balance in their news reports, adding that the government would work closely with them.

    Earlier, Chairman of the chapel, Mr Emmanuel Antswen said they were ready to partner with the government to ensure that citizens were made abreast of government policies and programmes at all times.

  • One dead, several injured as gunmen attack Benue bound bus

    One dead, several injured as gunmen attack Benue bound bus

    A fully loaded Benue Links bus conveying passengers to Otukpo en route Naka road Gwer West LGA at Tyolaha village was on Thursday night hijacked by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

    One passenger was killed and several others were injured during the attack by the gunmen.

    Findings show that the latest attack is not the first time marauding herdsmen had carried out such gruesome attacks on passengers along the dilapidated road.

    Tyolaha village has been a hotspot for persistent attacks by suspected Fulani Herdsmen.

    The herdsmen who were almost 15 in number thwarted any resistance by their victims which caused them to disperse on an escape with ease.

    These incessant attacks have caused most residents to flee and farmers to relocate from that part of the road while the remnants call on the government and security operatives for protection.

    Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Anekwe Catherine, who confirmed the incident to pressmen said “a bus belonging to Benue Links which was heading to Otukpo was attacked by unknown gunmen and three persons including women were wounded and one person died this morning.”

  • No ransom paid for release of Benue kidnapped commissioner – Gov. Alia

    No ransom paid for release of Benue kidnapped commissioner – Gov. Alia

    Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue said no ransom or any monetary exchanges were involved in securing the release of his Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Mathew Abo.

    This was contained in a statement on Thursday signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula and made available to newsmen in Makurdi.

    The governor stated that no ransom or monetary exchanges were involved in securing his safe release.

    “We can confirm that the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Matthew Abo, has regained freedom. He has since reunited with his family in Sankera, Ukum Local Government Area where he was abducted.

    “His release was as a result of intense pressure on the criminals from the gallant security operatives who were acting on the directives of Gov. Hyacinth Alia, who had earlier given marching orders to them to ensure Mr. Abo’s release,” he said.

    The statement further disclosed that the kidnappers were still holding the former Chairman, Ukum LGA, Mr Washima Erukaa and his cousin who discreetly went to negotiate with them for the release of Mr Erukaa but were also kidnapped.

    The former chairman was kidnapped at a different location and date.

    Gov Alia, who welcomed back the commissioner, further warned criminals operating within the state to leave for good, insisting that they would not be tolerated in any form.

    The governor commended the security operatives for ensuring the safe release of the commissioner and tasked them to ensure the safe release of the remaining captives.

    He charged the security operatives to be ruthless on criminals and ensure that they have no room to operate in the state.

    Mr Abo, who was kidnapped on Sept. 24, spent 10 days in captivity before regaining his freedom.

    Gunmen came on four motorcycles about 8:00 p.m., ordered everyone in the house, including the commissioner’s wife and children, to lie face down and took him away to an unknown destination on one of the motorcycles.

  • Kidnap Benue commissioner regains freedom – Police

    Kidnap Benue commissioner regains freedom – Police

    The Police Command in Benue have confirmed the release of the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Mathew Abo, who was abducted at his residence in Zaki-Biam on Sept. 24.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the development on Thursday.

    Anene said Abo was released in the early hours of Thursday and has been reunited with his family.

    Abo had spent 10 days in captivity before regaining his freedom.

    The gunmen came on four motorcycles at about 8 p.m, ordered everyone in the house, including the commissioner’s wife and children, to lie face down and took him away to an unknown destination on one of the motorcycles.

     

  • Benue PDP guber candidate to appeal against tribunal judgment

    Benue PDP guber candidate to appeal against tribunal judgment

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue and its candidate at the 2023 governorship election, Mr Titus Uba, have appealed against the judgment that upheld the election of Gov. Hyacinth Alia.

    The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, led by Justice Ibrahim Karaye dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and Uba and upheld the election of Alia of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sept. 24.

    The tribunal held that issues raised by the petitioners were pre-election matters and ought to have been entertained by the Federal High Court and not by the election petitions panel.

    PDP’s Publicity Secretary in Benue, Mr Bemgba Iortyom, stated on Wednesday in Makurdi that the PDP’s appeal was on 16 grounds.

    Notable among them, he explained, was the tribunal’s error in law on the issue of its jurisdiction to entertain the petition.

    “Our party and candidate fault the tribunal’s decision that the petition was a pre-election matter in spite of unambiguous statutory provisions and pronouncements of higher courts on the matter to the contrary.

    “The party is confident that the petition was established before the tribunal as the documentary depositions made by Alia’s running mate, Mr Samuel Ode, were forged.

    “Ode was not a candidate as his name was not submitted to INEC alongside that of Alia for the election as expressly required by law,’’ Iortyom stated.

    He added that the PDP and Uba had faith in the judiciary and remained optimistic that the appellate court would set aside the tribunal’s judgment and deliver substantive justice in the petition.