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  • Any Fulani who comes to Benue as vigilante will go to jail – Ortom

    Any Fulani who comes to Benue as vigilante will go to jail – Ortom

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday warned that he would use the rule of law to ensure that any Fulani herdsman who dared to come to the state for vigilante group was jailed.

    Recall that the Fulani organisation, Miyeitti Allah Kauta Hore, had at a press conference in Abuja recently, vowed to establish vigilante group in all states of federation to combat insecurity.

    In his response to this, Ortom through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, warned the Fulani organisation not to come to his state, adding that their motive was to carry their heinous activities to another level.

    The association, while also reacting to the statement, threatened to drag the governor and Benue State to court unless he retracted the statement

    But Ortom, while speaking with journalists on Thursday, said, “No Fulani group will come to Benue State where I’m the governor; you people know that it is a lie, they cannot come.

    “No room for vigilante group in whatever kind. When I confronted them, they said they would not use vigilante group of Nigeria. That one will not operate here.

    “We have our own vigilante that operates here; we have community policing in which we are recruiting now and livestock guard that take care of herdsmen in active support with security men.

    “So no single vigilante group of Miyeitti Allah will come to Benue State to make any noise here. For us in Benue State, we believe in the rule of law an we will jail them.”

  • BENUE’S WEEK OF GRIEF: How capsized boat murdered set of triplets, 23 other youths

    BENUE’S WEEK OF GRIEF: How capsized boat murdered set of triplets, 23 other youths

    It was indeed a dark week that the people and government of Benue State would not forget in a hurry. The ravaging coronavirus conspired with a boat mishap to cast a pall on the North-Central state. The people were still stinging from the news of the new grounds broken by the deadly Covid-19 pandemic when a boat capsized and killed no fewer than 26 young men and women.

     

    TheNewsGuru recalls that on Saturday, July 4, the media team of Governor Samuel Ortom invited journalists for an emergency press conference with the governor in Government House Makurdi.

     

     

    At the press conference, Governor Samuel Ortom stated that his wife had tested positive to Covid-19 alongside his domestic staff and the entire household, and had consequently been kept in isolation.

     

    Governor Ortom had disclosed that apart from his wife, key appointees of his administration, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the Head of Service (HOS) and the Chief Of staff (COS) had tested positive for the deadly virus.

     

    Yet the most shocking aspect of the sad news was the governor’s disclosure that the Vice Chairman of the COVID 19 Emergency Committee in Benue State, Prof. Godwin Achinge, had also tested positive for the virus.

     

    Achinge, a Professor of Medicine and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi, had been chosen into state’s COVID 19 committee on the basis of his vast experience. He had worked diligently with the chairman of the committee, Engr. Benson Abound, who is also the deputy governor of Benue State.

     

    Achinge’s infection by the deadly virus was seen by many as a big tragedy to the battle against the pandemic and a source of worry to the Benue State Government, members of the committee and the entire university community where he was also very active in the senate and council meetings.

     

     

     

    Worse still, hours after the governor broke the sad news of Achinge’s infection by Coronavirus, he gave up the ghost in the hospital where he was being treated.

     

    As it would be expected, his demise sent shock waves down the spines of many residents of the state, particularly as many other key appointees of the administration were already down with the virus.

     

    Unfortunately, the news of Prof. Achinge’s demise had not settled in, when another disaster struck: a boat carrying 28 youths of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Adeke, Makurdi capsized on River Benue, killing no fewer than 26 of them, including a set of triplets.

     

    The youths were going on an evangelism mission to a neighbouring community when tragedy struck.

     

    The Secretary of the English Section of the ECWA church, Miss Favour Simeon, said she was with the 26 youths who died in the accident at Sunday service earlier in the day.

     

    Simeon recalled that shortly after the Sunday service, the youths had come together and decided to embark on evangelism in another community across the River Benue.

     

    She said among those who drowned in the river when the boat capsized were a set of triplets by name Peter, Paul and Paulina, who are children of a mobile policeman identified simply as Inspector Bulus. Inspector Bulus was said to be away on Special duty at the time the incident occurred.

     

    Simeon, a friend of the 16-year-old triplets who were supposed to celebrate their 17th birthday in September, “their mother actually warned them against going to River Benue because the volume of its water had increased, but one of them (Paulina) accused her of trying to weaken her faith.

     

    “It was on that basis that their mother allowed them to travel for evangelism,” Simeon said.

     

    She described the occurrence as unfortunate, saying that the deceased triplets were devout Christians who had strong faith in God and loved to worship Him.

     

     

  • Two policemen, 11 others killed in Benue clash, Niger attacks

    Two policemen, 11 others killed in Benue clash, Niger attacks

    A total of 13 people, including two policemen, were killed in a communal clash in Benue State and bandits’ attacks in Niger State.

    While 10 people were killed yesterday in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State following a clash between Adana, Olegeje and Olegogboche communities, bandits killed three people, including two policemen, in separate attacks on communities in Niger State.

    Also, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have nabbed a local militia leader, popularly known as Alhaji Audu from Olegeje community, and recovered one AK-47 rifle and 60 round of ammunition from him during the clash.

    Earlier, some militia groups had attacked three communities of Adana, Olegeje and Olegogboche all in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

    The attacks were allegedly led by Audu and other members of his militia group.
    They had launched an attack on Adana community which led to the death of 10 persons, while others sustained injuries.

    It was initially alleged that the attack was carried out by herdsmen.
    But a resident of the community, Job Emakwo, said it was a communal clash involving the three communities as a result of the activities of some militias in the areas.

    He told reporters that Audu and his group went to Adana in search of one of their gang members and started shooting sporadically in all directions, killing two persons on the spot and injuring others.

    Emakwo added that there was a misunderstanding between the three communities over a parcel of land, which earlier had claimed the lives of some persons.

    He said immediately troops of OPWS stationed in Agatu heard about the clash, they rushed to the affected communities and stormed a militia camp and apprehended Audu.
    Audu was said to have been later identified as one of the leaders of the local militia who instigated the fight among the three communities.

    He said the troops recovered one AK-47 rifle and 60 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition with two magazines from Audu.

    When contacted, OPWS Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Adeyemi Yekini, said he could not comment on the Agatu attack and directed further enquiries to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Information Department.

    Also, the Public Relations Officer, Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed that there was an attack in Agatu, but the police were yet to establish whether it was caused by herdsmen or was due to a communal clash.

    Anene could not also confirm the number of death at the time of the report, but said policemen who were deployed in the area to maintain peace were yet to establish contacts with her due to network problem in the area.

    Also at the weekend, two policemen were killed in a shootout with bandits at Kussau village in Erena district of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
    The third person was earlier murdered in Gurmana village in the same local government area.

    The two policemen were identified as an Inspector and a Corporal and were said to have accompanied some engineers of the Shiroro Hydro Electric Dam on routine maintenance of some installations.

    They were said to have died after running into the gunmen and exchanging fire with them.

    One of the bandits, according to a report, was killed though the engineers they were detailed to protect escaped.

    The police, however, did not confirm the death of the policemen as the Public Relations Officer of Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said: “Two policemen are missing after an encounter with some armed bandits at Kusasu village in Shiroro Local Government Area.”

    He confirmed that the two missing policemen were among those detailed to provide security to some engineers from Shiroro Hydro Electricity dam on routine maintenance work of power facilities.

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  • Mismanagement of Covid-19 by Nigerian authority: Case study of Mrs. Suzan Idoko-Okpe – Godwin Etakibuebu

    Mismanagement of Covid-19 by Nigerian authority: Case study of Mrs. Suzan Idoko-Okpe – Godwin Etakibuebu

    By Godwin Etakibuebu

    On March 28, 2020, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, in line with the advice of members of the Benue Action Committee on COVID-19, announced publicly the name and test result of the State’s index case on COVID-19. The Governor gave the name of the index case as “one of our sisters – Mrs Suzan Idoko-Okpe, who arrived from London a few days ago.”

    By the announcement made by the Governor, management of COVID-19 took a terrible blow in Benue State, with gradual movement into Abuja – Nigeria’s capital city. As the transition of the mismanagement moved from Benue State to Abuja, the case of Mrs Suzan Idoko-Okpe radiated more the flaw of imperfection that symbolizes the Nigerian State nationhood’s handling of things – albeit destructively.

    The woman in question actually arrived Nigeria, through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, on March 22, 2020. She took a connecting flight to Abuja, from where she found her way into Benue State by road. She was said to have returned home from her base in London [that is where she lives even as a Nigerian/British citizen], for the burial ceremony of her mother. And maybe, as result of the hectic journey, she was alleged to be fatigued and on her own, decided to see a doctor at a private hospital – Grace Cottage Hospital in Makurdi, on March 24, 2020.

    This is how, by her decision to see a doctor, Mrs Suzan Idoko-Okpe entered into the Nigerian State’s “Den of Lion”, on a catastrophic journey into incarceration for 58 days. Follow the sequence of narration to the Nigerian Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, as given by her lawyer; Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, below, to appreciate the dilemma of our Country – a place where hope for better life is diminishing on daily basis, a real Thomas Hobbes’ “state of nature where life of man is in solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”. Isn’t that what Nigeria is?

    But first, read her video broadcast with which she alerted the whole world about her predicament, which just started then.

    “Hi, everybody, this is Susan Idoko Okpe, née Lawani. I am pleading with everybody to please tell Nigerian government to let me go. This is my 16th day of incarceration. What have I done, what have I done? Benue state lied on me that I have COVID-19. I just got the result yesterday after 15 days and the result is a stage play with different date birthdays, different recordings which they themselves know and trying to put right.”

    The letter by Adegboruwa reads in full:
    Dear Sir,
    REQUEST FOR THE RELEASE OF MRS. SUSAN IDOKO-OKPE (NEE LAWANI) FROM DETENTION
    The above matter refers. We are solicitors to Mrs. Susan Idoko-Okpe (nee Lawani) hereafter referred to as “our Client” and on whose behalf we have written this letter concerning the above. Our Client has informed us of the following state of affairs, which we deem necessary to bring to your esteemed attention for immediate action and remedy.
    1.That she is a Nigerian-British citizen who is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom with her immediate family. She is from Otukpa in Ogbadigo Local Government Area of Benue State by origin.
    2.Her mother, Princess Omokwutu Lawani, died sometime this year, whereupon the family proposed a befitting burial for her, slated for April 3-4, 2020, in Benue State. A copy of the funeral programme is herewith attached as Annexure A for your kind confirmation.
    3.Our Client arrived Nigeria on March 22 2020, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and thereafter proceeded to Abuja from where she headed for Benue State, to partake in her mother’s funeral programmes. She declared all her particulars and biodata with all the relevant agencies at the various airports on her arrival in Nigeria. The Nigerian Immigration Service stamp on her passport on March 22, 2020, is herewith attached as Annexure B for your kind confirmation.
    4.Owing to the stress of her journey, our Client experienced some headache and fatigue, whereupon her sister introduced her to Grace Cottage Hospital, in Makurdi, Benue State. She was registered in that hospital on March 24, 2020, with Reference Card No. 6014 – 3 – 2020. A copy of the said Reference Card is herewith attached as Annexure C for your kind confirmation. She was treated medically and indeed recovered her strength fully and was due for discharge.
    5.On March 25 2020, a doctor at Grace Cottage Hospital informed our Client that the standard procedure for people coming from countries with high prevalence of COVID 19 like the United Kingdom, was to take their samples, so he would have to call health experts from the Benue State Ministry of Health to carry out a COVID 19 test on her. Our Client did not object to this procedure, as a law-abiding citizen.

    6.Thereafter, the doctor came into our Client’s private ward in the hospital with two men, whom he claimed were from the Benue State Ministry of Health. They took the samples from our Client’s left nostril and her throat. Our Client then enquired from the doctor as to the collection of the test results and he responded that they will be ready in twenty-four hours. Though our Client was now well and ready to leave the private hospital, she was advised to wait for the outcome of the COVID 19 test results, so she waited.
    7.On March 27 2020, the doctor informed our Client that the test results were out and they confirmed that our Client had tested positive to COVID 19. Our Client asked for the said test results, but the doctor claimed that he doesn’t have it too and that he too was only informed verbally.
    8.It was not long thereafter that one of our Client’s friend, also a doctor, came in to inform her that the Governor of Benue State was on air conducting a press conference, wherein her name had been mentioned as the first index case of COVID 19 in Benue State. Our Client was totally shocked and embarrassed, as up till that moment, she was yet to be given copies of the said test results, as alleged.

    9.Our Client thereafter met with the management of the hospital, whose director appealed to her for calm as the hospital was fighting on her behalf, for a cause she knew next to nothing about. It was in the course of our Client’s protestations that she noticed that the entire hospital had been cordoned off by armed security personnel, with several vehicles and an ambulance. She was informed that she would be taken to an isolation center, compulsorily.

    10.At the said isolation center in Makurdi, our Client was treated with disdain, dehumanized, stigmatized, traumatized and degraded, with several live video recordings of her by numerous persons that she did not know. Her consent was not sought for the said video recordings and she was never obliged copies thereof.
    11.At the isolation center in Benue State, our Client had developed high temperature, due to the trauma from the degrading treatment that she was subjected to and she was not feeding well at all. Our Client was shocked to discover that her name had gone viral as being the index case of COVID 19 in Benue State and she started receiving telephone calls and messages from all over the world, especially her children, who are all based in the United Kingdom.

    12.Our Client protested her inhuman and degrading treatment, whereupon she was assured of a transfer to Abuja. Indeed, armed security men with patrol vehicles and an ambulance came to pick her to Abuja from Benue State. It was a traumatic experience, as in the course of the very long and tortuous journey, our Client’s repeated requests to urinate were sternly rebuffed by her captors, who directed her to urinate on herself, as they had orders from their superiors not to stop anywhere until they got to Abuja. As our Client could not bear the pressure on her bladder any longer, she had no choice but to urinate on herself several times, in the course of the journey. She was also starving, except the bottles of water she had with her, which she had to keep drinking in order not to be dehydrated and which warranted frequent urination.
    13.Our Client was taken to the National Hospital in Abuja and dumped in a ward and she has been in isolation in the said hospital ward ever since, forcefully detained against her will and for no verifiable reason.

    14.At the National Hospital in Abuja, our Client demanded for the results of her tests taken in Benue State and she was only obliged on April 8 2020, by which time her name had spread all over the world as the COVID 19 index case in Benue State.

    15.The documents constituting the purported test results leading to the erroneous conclusion that our Client has tested positive for COVID 19 are as follows:
    (A)Letter dated 2nd April 2020, from the Federal Ministry of Health, signed by A.M. Abdullahi, Permanent Secretary and addressed to the Chief Medical Director of Benue State University Teaching Hospital. The subject of the said letter is said to be one “… Ms. Susan Okpe, a 62 year-old Nigerian-British citizen …”. As you would kindly confirm from our Client’s bio-data on her international passport and even her Reference Card at the Grace Cottage Hospital, her name is SUSAN IDOKO-OKPE and she is 56 years old.
    (B)Letter dated 2nd April 2020, from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, signed by Dr. Patrick Echekwuebe, Head of Infectious Diseases Unit and addressed to the Infectious Diseases Unit of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. The subject matter of the said letter is “OKPE SUSAN/FEMALE/62YRS”, whereas as stated earlier, our Client is SUSAN IDOKO-OKPE and she is 56 years old. But more importantly, the said letter states further as follows:
    “The above-named patient was referred from a private hospital to our facility on 28th February, 2020, AFTER she tested positive to COVID 19 (see attached result).

    She was asymptomatic at presentation but developed frequent passage of loose stools the day after presentation (29th February, 2020) which has resolved.”
    From the contents of the letter from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital above, it shows clearly that our Client was not and could not have been the person referred to therein, for the following undisputed facts:

    (i)As of 28th February when the letter was written, our Client was still in the United Kingdom and she only arrived in Nigeria on March 22 2020, as confirmed by the stamp of the Nigerian Immigration Service on her passport;
    (ii)The said letter indicated that the patient was referred to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital from a private hospital ‘AFTER she tested positive to COVID 19’. As of this period, no test had been (nor could have been) conducted on our Client, as she was still in the United Kingdom and had not arrived Nigeria at all; and
    (iii)Our Client is not SUSAN OKPE and she is not 62 years old.
    (C)The third document is a purported laboratory test result from the National Reference Laboratory, Abuja, which refers to “OKPE SUSAN, 58 years, Female, Benue State, Otukpo Local

    Government Area”. As stated above, our Client is not 58 years old, she is not Okpe Susan and she is not from Otukpo LGA. In this same test result, it is stated that the “Date of onset of Fever” is “16/03/2020”, by which date our Client was still in the United Kingdom, having only arrived Nigeria on March 22 2020.
    16.The above is the only test result that has been given to our Client since her ordeal started and it is the basis of her forceful detention and erroneous labelling as the so-called index case of COVID 19 in Benue State. Our Client has been forced to take other tests at the National Hospital Abuja, but no results have been given to her, despite her repeated demands. All the three documents presented to our Client as constituting the results of COVID 19 tests are herewith collectively attached as Annexures D, D1 and D2 respectively.

    From all the foregoing, it is clear that our Client is not and could not have been the person referred to in all the documents enumerated above. COVID 19 tests conducted in Nigeria in February 2020, could not in all possibility, refer to our Client, who was at that material time in the United Kingdom. Presently, our Client is being detained against her will, upon the condition that she must go through COVID 19 treatment, when the basis of that conclusion does not relate to our Client at all. It is now well over one month since our Client has been in unlawful captivity and she has been hale, hearty and without any symptoms of COVID 19, or indeed any other sickness or disease. She deserves her freedom, which is her constitutional right.
    Although our Client appreciates the efforts of government in containing the COVID 19 pandemic, it is however wrong to turn her into a victim of a virus that she has not been diagnosed of being infected with. Accordingly, we hereby on behalf of our Client, request the Honourable Minister to use his good offices to give effect to the following:
    (i)direct the IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE of our Client from unlawful custody at the National Hospital, Abuja; and
    (ii)an UNRESERVED PUBLIC APOLOGY rendered to our Client, to be published in two national newspapers, two national television stations, two national radio stations and the social media.
    Upon her release and proper rehabilitation, our Client will determine the quantum of damages that she has suffered as a result of her ordeal and revert to you with details thereof, for settlement.

    While thanking you for your kind considerations and positive response, please accept the best assurances of our warmest regards, always.
    Yours faithfully,

    EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA, SAN.
    Mrs Suzan Idoko-Okpe, taken into incarceration by the Nigerian Authority on March 24, 2020, was eventually set free [more on the threat of legal action] in the evening [5pm] of Wednesday, May 20, 2020, after being detained for 58 days; courtesy of the Nigerian State machinery of oppression against her own citizens.
    Godwin Etakibuebu; a veteran Journalist, wrote from Lagos.
    Contact:
    Twitter: @godwin_buebu
    Facebook: Godwin Etakibuebu
    Facebook Page: Veteran Column
    Phone: +234-906-887-0014 – short messages only.
    You can also listen to this author [Godwin Etakibuebu] every Monday; 9:30 – 11am on Lagos Talk 91.3 FM live, in a weekly review of topical issues, presented by The News Guru [TNG].

  • BREAKING: PDP clears Benue LG polls, wins all 23 Chairmanship, 276 Counsellorship seats

    The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has recorded a clean sweep of last Saturday’s council elections held across the 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of Benue state.

    The party also cleared all the 276 available councilorship positions at the poll.

    Five political parties including the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Labour Party, LP, African Action Congress, AAC, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, participated in the election.

    Announcing the result of the poll, Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC, Mr. Terso Loko said the election was held peacefully in 3,691 polling units across the state.

    He said the election turned out a huge success without any incidents assuring that the commission would build on the success recorded in future elections.

    “By the the powers conferred on me as the Chief Returning Officer of the election and given the returned results I declare the PDP victorious in the 23 chairmanship and 276 councilorship election.

    “With the conclusion of the elections and declaration of results, the Chairmen-elected will on Monday morning be issued their certificates of return at the Commission’s headquarters in line with the provisions of the law,” the Chairman said.

    From the released results the PDP recorded its highest votes in Kwande LGA where its candidate Mrs. Joyce Chianson polled 67,406 votes to emerge victorious while Mr. Clement Onah garnered 1,235 votes, being the lowest in the 23 LGAs to emerge victorious in Oju LGA.

  • Covid-19: Fidelity Bank partners ESLF to cater for less privileged in Benue

    Covid-19: Fidelity Bank partners ESLF to cater for less privileged in Benue

    In fulfilment of its promise to continually support communities where it currently operates, Fidelity Bank Plc has donated the sum of N10 million to Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF), a pet project of the Benue First Lady.

    The donation would enable the organisation, in no small measure implement its many humanitarian projects designed specifically for the people of Benue State. It would also cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the less privileged in the state.

    Speaking during the presentation of the cheque, Fidelity Bank’s Executive Director, North, Hassan Imam, stated the bank was delighted with ESLF’s interventions in its four strategic areas of Education, Health, Governance and Economic Empowerment.

    According to Imam, ESLF boasts of unique and sustainable initiatives that would be most impactful in the lives of the vulnerable people in the society. Whilst disclosing that the Foundation’s laudable initiatives prompted the donation from the bank, he assured that the donation would not be a one-off support.

    Receiving the cheque on behalf of ESLF, the Founder of the organisation and First Lady of Benue State, Dr. Eunice Ortom, expressed gratitude to the bank for the gesture and promised that the foundation would make judicious use of the financial support.

    Earlier, the ESLF Programme Manager, Tine Agernor, pointed out that the Foundation had intervened in the areas of skills acquisition, economic empowerment for women and youths. Agernor said the Foundation was eager to partner with well-meaning individuals and organisations to carry out these humanitarian efforts.

    Also present at the event were Fidelity Bank’s Regional Bank Head, North Central, Sadi Zawayi; Branch Managing Director, Makurdi, Emmanuel Adukwu the bank’s Branch Head in Benue State University, Makurdi, Annet Olije Gyen.

  • EFCC arrest vigilante commandant over alleged N449.5m fraud

    EFCC arrest vigilante commandant over alleged N449.5m fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Mr George Mbessey, the Commandant, Benue State Vigilante Group (BSVG), following a petition over alleged conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of N449.5 million public funds.
    The EFCC Makurdi Zonal Office Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeira (NAN) on Friday in Makurdi.

    According to Oyewale, Mbessey was arrested by operatives of the EFCC on Wednesday in Makurdi.

    ”The petitioners state that the BSVG receives its official funding of N20 million monthly directly from the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs through official account.

    “Between October 2018 and May 2020, the suspect allegedly collected funds meant for the group to the tune of N449.5 million, using personal account.

    ”An act they claim did not follow due process, hence, the petition to the EFCC,” the commission spokesperson said.

    He further disclosed that the suspect has already volunteered useful information to the commission and would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation was concluded.

  • APC to boycott Benue councils poll

    APC to boycott Benue councils poll

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) says it will not participate in the May 30 local government councils election in Benue.

    Mr James Orngunga the state acting APC Publicity Secretary said this in a statement in Makurdi on Friday.

    “This is to inform the general public that the APC is not party to the kangaroo local government election which is already programmed to handpick and declare all PDP candidates winners.

    “Our party was prepared for the election and submitted a list of validly nominated candidates but unfortunately, the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission(BSIEC) acting the script of the State Government declared all our candidates as not properly nominated hence, disqualified.

    “The matter is still in court but we have been excluded and APC shall not feature on the ballot tomorrow for any position,” he said.

    He further called on party supporters in the state not to waste their time going to vote because the process lacked credibility.

    “We also urge all APC candidates who were illegally disqualified not to express any regret as those who won chairmanship and councillorship elections in the state since 2017 are still owed various shades of allowances till date.

    “Our party is regrouping and strategising for victory in 2023 and shall not be deterred by every ill- treatment accorded us this moment,” he said.

    The last council poll in the state was held in 2017 and the two year tenure of the elected officials expired in June 2019.

  • Graphic photo: Army guns down most wanted criminal in Benue

    Graphic photo: Army guns down most wanted criminal in Benue

    A notorious criminal kingpin in Benue, Terugwa Igbagwa, a.k.a Orjandu has been killed by Nigeria’s military.

    Defence Headquarters spokesman Major General John Enenche, announced this on Friday.

    According to Enenche, Igbagwa died during a commando operation on the highway linking Zaki Biam and Katsina-Ala in Benue.

    The operation was conducted by the combined troops of Operation Whirl Stroke Tracking Team and Special Forces of Sector 2 deployed in Zaki Biam.

    Orjondu is the second most wanted criminal kingpin next to Gana in Benue State, Enenche said.

    The military spokesman noted that Igbagwa was responsible for kidnapping, armed robbery, assassination, and gun-running among other criminal activities around Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo Local Government Areas (LGAs) for many years.

    Items recovered from the suspect include one AK 47 rifle, one locally made rifle, one AK 47 magazine with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special, and some charms.

    “The Military High Command congratulates Operation Whirl Stroke for their exploits in recent times,” Enenche said.

  • COVID-19: Lagos, Kano, Benue, others order masks from Cross River

    COVID-19: Lagos, Kano, Benue, others order masks from Cross River

    As various states in Nigeria battle to contain the ravaging global pandemic, COVID-9, Lagos state government, Benue State and a Kano Business mogul, Alhaji Isiaku Rabiu, have separately placed orders for nose masks from the Cross River State Garment Factory.

    While Lagos State placed order for one million nose masks, Rabiu ordered for 100,000 pieces of the masks to assist the Kano state government contain the pandemic.

    Cross River state governor, Sir Ben Ayade who made the disclosure Monday at the Garment factory Calabar stated that production of masks has been ramped up at the factory following the orders.

    Apart from states, order organizations that have made orders for masks from the factory include construction giants, Julius Berger and DHL.

    “We have Julius Berger, a construction company that has made a massive order. Shoprite also has made a massive order. We have also received an order of one million masks from Lagos State government.
    “Alhaji Isaiaku Rabiu made an order for a hundred thousand masks for Kano state,” the governor disclosed.

    He said he was at the factory to carry out an inspection on quality control and ensure that the masks were made according to specifications.

    “As you can see, we are here at the garment factory to carry out an inspection on quality control of preparation of the masks and ensuring that by the time they finish the ironing process, it will go through a sterilization chamber which is an innovation”, Ayade said

    He disclosed that plans were under way to design military style masks for the military and para military organizations.

    According to him, the special masks will come with fitted special protection and air filtration systems.

    Ayade: “As you are all aware, Cross River State started the concept of cloth mask. So we want to use this opportunity to say we want to move into the new brand of a military mask which will have special protection and special air filtration as well as special breathing support systems to enable the military use it on a daily basis even in the face of a biological warfare ”

    The governor maintained said he has taken time to wear the mask in different combination of clothes to create awareness and to show that no matter how you dress, there is a mask that can fit with your dressing.

    “I have taken time to wear the mask in different combination of clothes not just for the purpose of wearing the mask but to create awareness on the use of the masks

    And also as a means of marketing that even if you are wearing a traditional attire, there are masks that can go with your dressing”

    “If you intend to go with a jean and a top it can still fit so whether you are young or middle aged or old, there is always a way and style that the mask will fit. And until Coronavirus is over, wearing masks has to become our way of life.”

    He expressed optimism that with the support of the federal government, Cross River State should be in a position to start exporting masks to other African countries in the near future.

    “I believe that with the support of the federal government, we should be in a position to start exporting masks to other African countries very soon.with our installed capacity at three shifts we can do close to a million masks a day and am happy the federal government is adopting wearing of nose masks as a national policy”, Ayade quipped.