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Tag: Benue

  • Police arrest 3 kidnap suspects in Benue

    The Police Command in Benue has arrested three suspected kidnappers in Logo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    This is contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Sewuese Anene, on Wednesday in Makurdi.

    Anene said that the operatives of the command arrested the suspects at a hideout at Ugba the headquarter of the local government area, after they had kidnapped a man.

    “On sighting the police, the suspects engaged them in an exchange of fire but the police were able to subdue them and the three of them were arrested at the scene.

    “One of them sustained gunshot injuries and was confirmed dead at the hospital and his corpse has been deposited at the morgue.

    “The other two, identified as Aondona Yakyuur and Teryange Myina are currently undergoing interrogation,’’ she said.

    She said the victim was rescued unhurt and had been reunited with his family.

    The PPRO said one fabricated barretta pistol with four rounds of live ammunition was recovered from them.

  • Ortom hails police for rescuing kidnapped commissioner’s wife

    Ortom hails police for rescuing kidnapped commissioner’s wife

    Gov. Samuel Ortom has commended the Police Command in Benue for rescuing the kidnapped wife of his Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Mrs Ann Unenge, killing the three suspected kidnappers in the process.

    Ortom, who was at the police headquarters in Makurdi on Monday to see the corpses of the suspected kidnappers, said that the feat was commendable.

    “I commend the Commissioner of Police in Benue, Audu Madaki, who has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for the successful operation.

    “I also commend the Commander of Operation Zenda and his crack team for gunning down the three suspected kidnappers. I am very happy with the success you have recorded,” he said.

    The governor also appreciated those who volunteered information that led to the success of the rescue operation.

    He ordered the immediate demolition of the building used by the suspected criminals and that the owner of the said building should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Unenge and her driver were kidnapped four days ago in Makurdi.

  • BREAKING: Police rescue abducted Benue Commissioner’s wife, shoot three kidnappers dead

    BREAKING: Police rescue abducted Benue Commissioner’s wife, shoot three kidnappers dead

    Men of the Police Elite Squad Operation Zenda in Benue State on Monday rescued the wife of the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mrs. Ann Unenge.

    During the rescue operation, three kidnappers were killed by the police.

    Mrs. Unenge was kidnapped on Saturday.

    The state governor, Samuel Ortom had confirmed the incident to journalists in Markudi, where he called on the Federal Government to clamp down on bandits and kidnappers.

    He expressed concerns over the growing cases of kidnapping and other organised crimes across the country, asking the Federal Government to take on them heads-on.

    He assured that all hands will be on deck to ensure the release of the victim.

    “We are working together with the security agencies. You don’t just review security matters sometimes because you will be exposing the victim,” Governor Ortom said.

    “Throughout yesterday night and today, my security adviser is here and we are working with some conventional and unconventional security, they will be released.”

    Governor Ortom also expressed optimism that the nation would surmount all her security challenges.

  • Save your energy for governance in Benue, leave Buhari alone, Tiv youths blasts Ortom

    Save your energy for governance in Benue, leave Buhari alone, Tiv youths blasts Ortom

    The Tiv Youth Council Worldwide has urged Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue to concentrate on good governance and refrain from criticising President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The President of the council, Mr Mike Msuaan in a statement on Monday in Abuja, accused Ortom of not providing dividends of democracy for people of the state.

    Msuaan urged the governor not to take delight in attacking Buhari at any slightest opportunity.

    He described as “hypocrisy driven to a rather ridiculous height’’ the accusations Ortom leveled against the president in his recent utterances.

    “It is curious that the governor who has used apparatus of state to intimidate critics from interrogating his inability to provide basic amenities for the people of Benue will turn round to accuse the president of intimidating critics.

    “Just recently, Mr Atsar Gundu who has been a virulent critic of Ortom was arrested in a gestapo manner and remanded in prison without trial for several months.

    “The governor, like no other in the history of the state is currently in court with several other citizens of the state, all in a bid to gag public outcry against his dismal performance,’’ he said.

    On the allegations of corruption against Buhari’s aides, Msuaan said that Ortom’s Principal Private Secretary and Adviser on Works and Housing were charged to court for alleged corruption for embezzling N4.7 billion.

    “Similarly, just recently, Mr Joseph Loko, the Chairman, Benue State Independent Electoral Commission and others were dragged to court by the EFCC for misappropriation of about N500 million.

    “We expect the governor to get busy with fashioning out a solution to the militia killings in Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

    “There are protracted communal crisis in Bonta, Konshisha LGA and Oju LGA which has led to the destruction of several lives and property worth millions of naira.

    “Also, the ongoing Ipiav and Yandev communal problems in Gboko LGA and many other crises should get the governor’s action,’’ he said.

    Msuaan commended Buhari and the security agencies and urged them not to be deterred by negative statements but sustain the fight against criminality and agents of distabilisation.

  • Herdsmen kill two aide workers, volunteer in Benue State

    Herdsmen kill two aide workers, volunteer in Benue State

    Suspected herdsmen have killed two aide workers and a volunteer for 360HSCD, a non governmental organizations working on HIV/AID testing and counseling in Benue state.

    The aid workers had been on routine weekend supervision at Tomanyi village in Guma LGA of Benue state.

    This is according to local sources who called the telephone lines of the aide workers upon learning of their abduction by suspected herdsmen.

    The herdsmen who answered the call, according to the sources, confirmed the killings and insisted that such will continue until Governor Samuel Ortom responds to their demand to repeal the prohibition of open grazing in Benue state.

    The state had passed a law banning open grazing in favour of ranching in 2017.

    According to reports, as of Monday morning, eight corpses have been recovered from Tomanyi village by security forces, accompanied by youths from the area.

    However, police spokesperson in Benue, DSP Sewuese Anene, said she was yet unable to confirm the attack.

  • NDLEA uncovers drug cartels in Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue states

    NDLEA uncovers drug cartels in Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue states

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered three drug cartels allegedly supplying illicit substances to some states.
    The agency also recovered skunk and cocaine weighing more than 843 kilogrammes.
    NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi announced the discovery in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
    Babafemi said that the operatives also arrested no fewer than seven of the drug kingpins behind the syndicates in separate raids in Kogi, Nasarawa State and Benue.
    He said that the arrest was made as the offenders attempted to evade the frequent road interdiction efforts by officers of the Kogi command of the agency.
    He also said that the cartels were intercepted on July 12 at a jetty in Idah, Kogi, in a car marked Lagos SMK 345 CG, loaded with 487 kilogrammes of cannabis.
    “In Nasarawa State, a team of NDLEA operatives had on July 8 raided one of the most hostile drug joints in the state capital.
    “More than 356 kilogrammes of cannabis and various psychotropic substances were recovered.
    “This is addition to the arrest of four major drug dealers, including the most notorious drug kingpin in Nasarawa State.
    “His drug distribution tentacles cut across Kano State, Plateau, Benue and parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
    “Curiously, some quantities of cocaine were intercepted in Benue on July 8, July 9 and July 13.
    “Indeed, the supplier was arrested with 29.17 grammes of crack cocaine.
    “In another raid on July 13, the Benue command also seized some quantities of cocaine,” he said.
    Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig.-Brig Buba Marwa, as commending the commanders, officers and men of Kogi, Nasarawa State and Benue commands of the agency.
    He said Marwa charged them not to relent but remain resolute in their commitment to rid every community of illicit drug peddling.
  • Court of Appeal begins alternate sitting in Lafia

    Court of Appeal begins alternate sitting in Lafia

    The Court of Appeal, Makurdi Division, Benue, has commenced alternate sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State to dispense appeal cases from the state at minimal cost.

    Speaking during the inaugural sitting on Monday in Lafia, Justice Ignatius Agube, Presiding Judge of the Court, said they have the approval of the President of Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, to hold the alternate sitting.

    He added that the decision of the Court to sit in Lafia was aimed at ensuring justice and assisting litigants and counsels from Lafia who had filled appealed cases in Makurdi, Benue.

    Agube said the alternate sitting which began on Monday, July 5, would hear 122 appeal cases within two weeks.

    He called on litigants and counsels to cooporate with the Court for its smooth operation and assured them of their determination to ensure justice.

    Earlier, Abdulkarim Kana, Nasarawa State Attorney-General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, expressed gratitude to the Judge for deciding to share sitting between the two states.

    He said that the state government would provide the necessary logistics in terms of accommodations and court room for the sitting.

    The AG also appealed that the sitting in the state should be more frequent while calling for the establishment of a Court of Appeal in Nasarawa State.

    Similarly, Mr Edward Ashiekaa, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), commended the initiative of commencing alternative sitting of Appeal Court in Lafia.

    The Senior Advocate appealed to governors of the 36 states and other stakeholders to address the issue that led to the shutdown of courts in the country for two months to avert a repeat.

  • Three killed as explosion rocks Benue community

    Three killed as explosion rocks Benue community

    Three people were killed on Monday when a fuel tanker exploded at the Amoke village of Apa Local Government Area in Benue State.

    The incident occurred when the vehicle conveying petroleum product went up in flame in the area.

    An eyewitness, Godfrey Idede told newsmen that the number of casualties could not be ascertained yet.

    He revealed that the incident led to panic in the area as economic activities came to an abrupt halt.

    However, the Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Benue State, Yakubu Mohammed, while confirming the incident to journalists, said only three persons were killed.

    Mohammed who attributed the unfortunate incident to brakes failure said aside from the three victims, no other person sustained injury.

    He stated that the fire was put out after some hours, noting that there was no fire service station close to the scene of the incident.

  • Police kill 14 bandits during gun duel in Benue

    Police kill 14 bandits during gun duel in Benue

    Fourteen suspected bandits have been shot dead by the police in Benue State during an intensive gun-battle with the hoodlums.

    It was gathered that 50 bandits attempted to invade the Kastina-Ala Police Division where some of their members were being detained to free them when sporadic shootings occurred.

    The incident reportedly occurred around 1:30am on Sunday.

    Benue State Police Command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, in a statement confirmed the development, saying that the police were determined to wipe out bandits from the state.

    According to her, on 19th June, 2021, five bandits were arrested and detained at Kastina-Ala Police Division for investigation and prosecution.

    She added that on 20th June, 2021 at about 1:30 am more than fifty other gang members of the detainees mobilized and invaded the police station to rescue their counterparts.

    Anene explained that officers at the division, who were already at alert, engaged the bandits in a gun duel and were able to subdue them.

    She added that 14 of the bandits were brought down during the exchange of fire while several others escaped with gunshot injuries.

    Anene stated that the police were now on the trail of others with a bid to arrest and prosecute them.

    She urged the people to remain calm and furnish the police with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing bandits.

  • SAD! 11 killed in Benue communal clash, herders burn down houses

    SAD! 11 killed in Benue communal clash, herders burn down houses

    No fewer than 11 people were allegedly killed in unconnected attacks in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State on Sunday.

    According to locals, nine people were killed in a communal clash between Ailla and Adagbo communities, while two were killed by Fulani herdsmen in an attack on Odugbeho community.

    Ailla and Adagbo communities were embroiled in a renewed communal clash, leading to the demise of several people, while many others were incapacitated.

    “There has been a protracted crisis between Ailla and Adagbo communities which resurfaced yesterday (Sunday). The cause of the renewed crisis is yet to be ascertained, but some people were killed and many others injured,” an indigene, who identified himself as Ada, said.

    Sadly, the same day herders stormed Odugbeho community, exactly a week after members of the group attacked the community and killed 27 people.

    A resident known as Uloko said the hoodlums attacked the village around 5.30pm on Sunday and set ablaze 21 houses.

    Uloko said, “We heard privileged information about this Sunday attack and this was related to security operatives, who failed to act on the information given to them.

    “It was around 5.30pm that they came, the same time they came last Sunday. They came in their numbers with superior firepower and shot continuously, burning down houses.”

    The Chairman of the LGA, Sule Adohi, said nine people were killed in the communal clash and two people murdered in the herdsmen’s attack.

    He revealed that the herders burnt 21 houses.