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Tag: Benue

  • Police in Benue arrest 4 over murder of retired judge

    Police in Benue arrest 4 over murder of retired judge

    Police in Benue paraded four suspected killers of former President of Benue Customary Court of Appeal, retired Justice Margaret Igbetar, before newsmen on Tuesday in Makurdi.

    Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bartholomew Onyeka, told newsmen that the suspects confessed that they killed the jurist over family inheritance.

    The decomposing body of retired Justice Igbetar was found with deep cults on her back inside her kitchen on Aug. 24.

    Onyeka said following her gruesome murder police arrested one Joseph Aondohemba, her nephew.

    “The suspect confessed to have planned and recruited other people to help him to kill his aunty and led a team of detectives to Adikpo in Kwande Local Government Area where two others were arrested.

    “The two arrested at Adikpo were Igbazenda Gbidye (63) and Dzungwenen Ukor (40).

    “These suspects admitted that Aondohemba reported to them that his father died and left a lot of property in the hands of his aunty (the deceased) and she had refused to hand the said property over to him.

    “They agreed to join him in eliminating her so he could have access to his property.

    “One Akuhwa Barnabas (32), driver to the deceased, corroborated their statements and admitted that he gave the gang access to the house and manned the gate until they finished the assassination process.’’ Onyeka said.

    The police commissioner added that the four suspects would be arraigned after the completion of investigation.

    Onyeka also told newsmen that between July and September, police in Benue arrested 85 persons in connection with kidnapping, armed robbery, culpable homicide, cultism, rape and unlawful possession of firearms.

    The police recovered 12 locally-made pistols, four AK47 riffles, four single and double barrel guns, 160 ammunitions and four cartridges, during the period, he said.

    Onyeka assured that police would soon secure the release of Benue Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Mathew Abo, who was kidnapped recently.

    NAN

  • Six rescued, four suspected criminals arrested as Police bust kidnapper’s den in Benue

    Six rescued, four suspected criminals arrested as Police bust kidnapper’s den in Benue

    The Benue state Police command has rescued six kidnapped victims and arrested four suspects in Agbanor village, Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state.

    The command Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene in Makurdi made this known via a statement signed and released by him on Thursday in Makurdi.

    According to him, the rescued persons, two women and four girls, were kidnapped on Sept. 22 while on their way to the farm in Utonkon District.

    “On sighting the police, one of the suspects engaged them in a gun duel but was overpowered by the police and arrested with one single barrel gun loaded with two live cartridges.

    “Three other suspects were also arrested within the area.

    “A search conducted in the hideout led to the rescue of the six victims, who have received treatment at the hospital and reunited with their families,” Anene said.

    The police spokesperson said the investigation was ongoing to arrest other suspects who fled.

  • Benue not dumping ground for criminals – Gov Alia

    Benue not dumping ground for criminals – Gov Alia

    Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue on Tuesday said the State was not a dumping ground for criminals.

    He urged abductors of his Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism to immediately release him.

    Alia said this while addressing his supporters at the IBB Square in Makurdi on Tuesday to celebrate his victory at the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Saturday.

    He said those who kidnapped the commissioner had few hours to release him unhurt, adding that the state was not a dumping ground for criminals.

    The governor said lines must be drawn between the good and bad in the society, saying that homegrown terrorists and bandits have no place in the state.

    He commended the family of the abducted commissioner for their patience, and assured that security agencies would leave no stone unturned to ensure that he was released unhurt.

    Speaking on his achievements in the first 100 days in office, Alia said that he had already started construction of 16 township roads within the state capita.

    He said that other major towns would soon receive similar attention.

    Reacting to his victory at the Tribunal, he said that the decision of the tribunal was a reminder that one cannot toy with the mandate of the majority.

    He said that God had used him to bring back smiles on the faces of residents of the state.

    According to him, lot of things had gone wrong in the state but his government would do everything possible to rebuild and make it better for all.

    He said palliatives would soon be distributed to all 23 local government areas across the state, as the trucks of grains have arrived.

    On his plans for youths in the state, the governor said the ICT training programme which was slated to commence soon, would afford the youth the opportunity to acquire professional skills.

    He said his administration would ensure the return of all IDPs back to their ancestral homes.

    Alia said  that banditry and terrorism would not be allowed to have a place in the state under his watch.

  • 17-year-old student commits suicide in Benue

    17-year-old student commits suicide in Benue

    The Police Command in Benue on Friday said one Terhemba Tyochivir committed suicide on Thursday in Makurdi, the State Capital.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident to NAN through a text message.

    She said before his death, he was a student of Government Secondary School, Gboko.

    Anene said that the details of the incident remained sketchy even though it was reported at the E Division Police Station, Makurdi.

    She said that the deceased was rushed to Bishop Murray Hospital Makurdi, where Doctors confirmed him dead.

    Efforts made to talk to the father of the deceased, Mr Kula Tyochivir proved abortive as he insisted on talking at another time.

  • Tribunal upholds election of 3 APC assembly members in Benue

    Tribunal upholds election of 3 APC assembly members in Benue

    The National/State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Makurdi, on Thursday upheld the elections of three All Progressives Congress (APC), Benue 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 witnesses to prove that there was an incident of over voting and cancellation of results in six polling units during the election.

    The court, therefore, upheld the return of APC’s Agada Oche, as winner of Ogbadibo State Constituency election in the March 18, election.

    Mohammed further awarded N150,000, as a fine against the petitioners in favour of Oche, APC, INEC.

    On the Mata State Constituency, the judge also ruled that APC’s Simon Gabo, was duly elected, and upheld his return by the INEC.

    He further held that only the witness statement of one of the petitioners’ witnesses, was filed alongside the petition, all other witnesses of the petitioners were filed out of time.

    Mohammed therefore, upheld the return of Gabo.

    The petitioners, Elijah Anayagher and PDP, had dragged the respondent before the tribunal, challenging his return by the INEC.

    Also, Justice Zubayr, in another judgment, affirmed the election of APC’s Emmanuel Shimawua, as the winner of Kyan State Constituency in the March 18, election.

    The Judge held that Terkimbi Adeiyongu and PDP, also lost as they failed to prove their case of forgery.

    The petitioners have alleged that the respondent forged his certificate but only tendered the respondent’s Form EC9, to prove their case.

    The court held that the petitioners needed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the respondent forged his certificate with relevant documents and witnesses.

  • Why Tribunal sacked APC’s Senator, declares Suswam of PDP winner in Benue North East

    Why Tribunal sacked APC’s Senator, declares Suswam of PDP winner in Benue North East

    The Benue State Election Tribunal has declared Senator Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the 25 February Senatorial election in the Benue North East Senatorial District.

    Suswam defeated Emmanuel Udende of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the tribunal and was returned on Friday, after a judgement that lasted for over three hours.

    Senator Udende was declared winner of the February 25, 2023, National Assembly election after polling a total of 135,573 votes to defeat Senator Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who garnered 112,231 votes.

    Not satisfied with the outcome of the election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Senator Suswam approached the Tribunal on the ground that the election was marred by over-voting, irregularities, alterations and falsification of results.

    The former Governor challenged the results from 474 polling units across five Local Government Areas, LGAs, in the Senatorial Zone which is made up of seven LGAs with 1,844 polling units.

    During the hearing, Senator Suswam tendered 1,182 exhibits and called 19 witnesses while Senator Udende called one witness and tendered five exhibits. The APC called three witnesses and tendered three documents. INEC on the other hand failed to call any witnesses, resting it case on the evidence of the others.

    In her ruling in a judgement that lasted over three hours, Justice Zik-Ikeoha declared that the evidences provided by the petitioners’ counsel established that there were cases of over-voting, falsification and mutilation of results sheets as well as malpractices “in five out of the seven LGAs that make up the Senatorial District.”

    The Tribunal held that “the petitioners establish that the result from the affected polling units were falsified.”

    The tribunal therefore cancelled 51,895 votes entered for Senator Udende and also cancelled 21,229 votes entered for Senator Suswam.

    After subtracting the padded votes, Senator Suswam was left with 90,590 while Senator Udende scored 82,699 votes.

     

  • Chickenpox outbreak hit Benue IDP camp

    Chickenpox outbreak hit Benue IDP camp

    There is a confirmation that there is an outbreak of chickenpox and other diseases in the Agagbe Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Gwer LGA of Benue State.

    It was gathered that about t nine children were infected with measles at the same camp last week.

    The outbreak of chickenpox was detected by some medical doctors from a nearby private hospital, according to the chairman of the IDP camp

    He said the doctors broke the news to some government officials who visited the camp over the weekend.

    The government officials, who, according to the camp manager, were from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had visited to ascertain whether the cases of measles, other illnesses, and hunger reported in the media were true.

    “SEMA was here to confirm the widespread news in the Agagbe IDP camp concerning sickness and hunger. They interviewed Mrs Ioryoosu Udisugh, who gave birth in the toilet, and she told them the same story.

    “They went to the European Economic Community (EEC) hospital, Agagbe, where the doctors confirmed the situation to be true (for measles). Those doctors also reported chickenpox to them,” Jacob said.

    Meanwhile, the camp manager disclosed that Reverend Father Bua Cletus, the vicar in charge of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Agagbe, informed him that two people sent N70,000 into his account to help with pressing issues of sickness at the IDP camp in Agagbe.

    “We have been able to take them to St Francis Xavier Primary Health Care, Agagbe, so far. If the money remains, we will still take in more ill people,” the camp manager posited.

  • Police arrest man over death of retired Benue court of appeal president

    Police arrest man over death of retired Benue court of appeal president

    The Police Command in Benue, has confirmed the arrest of one Aondohemba Joseph, over the death of Justice Margaret Igbetar, a retired President, Benue Customary Court of Appeal,

    The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Saturday in Makurdi.

    The 73-year-old Igbetar, who retired from service on Oct. 17, 2015, was said to be living a private life and was hardly seen in public.

    Anene said the judge was found in a pool of her own blood in her kitchen on Friday, with deep cuts on her back.

    “On Aug. 24, information was received at ‘E’ Police Division Makurdi, that Justice Margaret Igbetar (rtd), could not respond to calls and was no where to be found. Detectives were immediately deployed for investigation.

    “A search conducted within her house at Wantor Kwange Street, Gboko Road, Makurdi, led to the discovery of her body in a pool of blood inside her kitchen. It was also observed that she had deep cuts on her back.

    “Further investigation led to the arrest of one Aondohemba Joseph, and recovery of exhibits for detailed investigation,” the Police spokesperson said in the statement.

    The statement further quoted the State  Commissioner of Police (CP), Bartholomew Onyeka, as strongly “condemned the dastardly act”.

    Onyeka further assured that he would unravel the mystery behind the death and bring perpetuators of the barbaric act to book.

    Igbetar was born on Oct. 17, 1950, in Mbape, Shangev-ya, Tsar-Mbaduku, in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State.

    She started her career as the Assistant Registrar, Grade I Area Court, Katsina-Ala, Benue State in 1971, and rose to become a Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal in 1995, a position she held till 2003 when she was appointed President of the court.

    Igbetar was a founding member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA), Benue State, a life member, first Chairperson of Benue branch and a National Trustee of the association.

    The late Justice served as a member, Election Petition Tribunal, Bauchi State, between 1998 and 1999, National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Imo/Abia State in 1999 and the Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal, Kebbi State.

    She was also a member of the Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution in 2000.

    NAN

  • ‘I’m not home’ – Davido tells cyclist who rode eight hours from Benue to see him

    ‘I’m not home’ – Davido tells cyclist who rode eight hours from Benue to see him

    A cyclist who rode from Benue to Lagos to see Famous singer, David Adeleke, professionally known as  Davido has been left disappointed after realizing Davido was out of the country.

    The cyclist who held on to Davido’s poster while on his already rode for eight days on Nigerian road.

    A Twitter user, @ssbbmuzi had shared photos of the fan with the handle @emmiwuks, saying he had been riding a bicycle from Benue to meet Davido.

    He said the fan had already spent eight days on the road.

    The Twitter user wrote, “A young man called @emmiwuks embarked on a Benue to #Lagos on a bicycle to meet #Afrobeat Superstar @davido He is currently on Day 8 today.”

    Davido quoted the tweet and ordered the fan to turn around, adding that he was not presently in the country.

    The singer wrote, “Turn around I’m not home.”

    But the man identified as Emmanuel Myam was unfazed by the words and insisted that he must present his gift to the DMW boss.

    Following this, Davido chastised the young man for his stubbornness and told him to turn back, return home and send his account number.

    He also informed the young man that he can redo his great journey when he returns to the country.

    “U no wan hear …. Oya send account … then u can do ur great journey when I’m back ❤️,” Davido wrote.

    See his post below;

     

  • EFCC busts ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ hideout in Benue, arrests 14 suspects

    EFCC busts ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ hideout in Benue, arrests 14 suspects

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 14 suspected internet fraudsters in Makurdi, Benue.

    EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement in Abuja

    According to him, the suspects include Solomon Oloche, Innocent Ochola, Aselo Wisdom, Simon Jeff, Innocent Raphael, Akula Kelvin, Emmanuel Okanche, Francis Chikodirie, Atoo Michael, Ochayi Nelson, Ngutor Paul, Michael Tyobe, Samuel Okanche, and Patience Tseaa

    He said that they were arrested after series of surveillance based on intelligence on their alleged criminal activities.

    “Items recovered from them include a Toyota Camry Car, 14 iPhones, 11 Android phones, 6 Laptop computers, different ATM Cards, a flash drive, MTN Router, Tus bike, and several incriminating documents.

    “The suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” he said.