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Tag: Benue

  • Strange disease kills 4, 15 hospitalised in Benue – Officials

    Strange disease kills 4, 15 hospitalised in Benue – Officials

    Officials have confirmed the dead of four persons with15 others seriously sick following a strange disease recorded at Oye-Obi in Obi Local Government Area of Benue.

    Mr Andyson Egbodo, the newly President of Igede National Youths Council, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Makurdi.

    Egbodo gave the names of the deceased as Happiness Ogbu, Onah Ogbedu, Andy Edu and Wisdom Agwo.

    He said that all victims developed the same symptoms of headache, internal heat, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach ache, weakness of the body and swollen stomach.

    Egbodo said that the health authorities in Oju local government area had been briefed on the development.

    He confirmed that the state government had dispatched a medical team to handle the alleged epidemic.

    Egbodo called on the Benue State and Federal Government to urgently do all within their powers to arrest the situation.

    “We are not resting on our part in the area of mass mobilisation and awareness campaign on how to prevent its spread.

    “Our investigation reveals that about 15 persons as at today, Wednesday, Jan. 29, are already down with the same symptoms, some of them have already been moved to the General Hospital, Oju,” he said.

    The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Sunday Ongbabo, confirmed the development, saying the ministry had already dispatched a team of doctors to the affected area to ascertain the nature of the disease.

    Ongbabo said that they were investigating the situation to find out whether it was Lassa fever and also considering other options.

    “We are also in contact with the Centre for Disease Control to come to our aid to ensure that the disease was not out of control.

    “I cannot give you the exact figure of those who have died and those currently suffering from the disease until I get report from my team, which is being led by the Director of Public Health.

    “The information we got earlier indicated that three persons are currently with the disease and some others have died, but we have not gotten information from our focal person of what exactly killed them,” he said.

    The commissioner however members of the public to remain calm as government was working hard to contain the situation.

  • Tragic! Mob set alleged robber ablaze

    Tragic! Mob set alleged robber ablaze

    A mob has set ablaze a suspected robber at Kornya town in Benue State.

    A youth activist, Jiji Jacksaid the police arrested the suspect, who had been a thorn in the flesh of the residents of Kornya town because of his unlawful activities and detained him in a cell.

    He said when youths became aware of his detention; they mobilised, stormed the police station, forcefully took him away and set him ablaze, using petrol and tyres.

    Youths in the community said the victim was a notorious criminal “and the only way to end his reign of terror was to give him jungle justice.”

    Police spokesperson Kate Sewuese, said she was yet to get a report of the incident.

     

  • FG ready to demarcate Benue, Taraba boundary

     

    The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to demarcate the Boundary between Benue and Taraba State before mid-year in 2020.

    The decision is part of measures to restore lasting peace to the State which has been enmeshed in Boundary disputes that have led to several deaths and destruction of properties for over a decade.

    The Acting Director-General of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Surv. Adamu Adaji made this known on Thursday at a meeting of the Joint Officials on Benue/Taraba inter-State Boundary in Abuja, the Nation’s capital.

    Adaji stated that demarcation exercise is essential for Administrative purposes and as such should not be considered as a gulf wall between the sister states which shared common cultural and historic background.

    According to him, the lingering Boundary problems between the two states dates back to 1976 when the Gongola State was created and Wukari Division which is made up of Wukari, Takum and Donga, were carved out of Benue State and merged with Sardauna and Adamawa province has helped to nurture acrimony between the states.

    “Several attempts made by the Government at demarcating the Boundary were rejected and every efforts made by the Commission to lay Boundary pillars were thwarted by the communities, stressing that this time around the present administration at both Federal and State levels are committed and determined to bring the impasse to a permanent end”

    He urged both sides of the Administrative divide to buy-in into the demarcation exercise maintaining that the exercise was a bridge to further cement the cordial relationship between the communities.

    Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Taraba state, Mr. Haruna Manu had described the resolve by the Federal Government to demarcate the boundary as a “golden opportunity” as the exercise would ensure that both states enjoy relative peace that have eluded them for some time.

    According to him, “there is no any better time than now for the sister states to demarcate the boundaries”.

    “The issue of Boundary crisis between these two states have been lingering and has largely been because of lack of understanding, if we are able to restore peace through the demarcation, posterity will judge us well” he added.

    In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu lamented that the demarcation plan was coming shortly after the recent Tiv/Jukun boundary crisis.

    He therefore emphasized the need for advocacy and sensitization to enlighten the people on the importance of the demarcation exercise, noting that “boundary is not a dividing wall between Benue and Taraba States, neither is it geared towards punishing anybody but that it is merely for administrative convenience”

    Both Deputy Governors solicited the acceptance and cooperation of the communities and that they should see it as a conduit pipe for peaceful coexistence and a means for socio-economic advancement.

    The Communique issued at the end of the meeting resolved the following;

    That the NBC shall make available a comprehensive map of the 1996 fieldwork based on the 1923/24 description of the two states for study.

    It also stated that the NBC and the Surveyor-General of the two states shall come to Abuja to authenticate the map and collect copies for the states between 16th – 18th December, 2019.

    It further stated that the two states shall study the map and interface bilaterally on areas for considerations in the spirit of togetherness and reportto the NBC not later than the end of January 2020 and that the National Boundary Commission shall thereafter convey another Joint meeting of officials at a date to be decided.

  • NEMA suspends fertilisers distribution in Benue

    NEMA suspends fertilisers distribution in Benue

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has suspended the ongoing distribution of fertilisers to the 2018 flood and herders crises victims in Benue.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NEMA had on Oct. 3, commenced the distribution of 226 trucks of fertilisers to the disasters victims in Benue.

    NAN reports that the fertilisers are part of the Federal Government Agricultural Emergency Intervention Programme aimed at assisting 2018 flood and herders crisis victims across the country.

    Speaking during the joint press briefing in Makurdi, the head of NEMA team in Benue, Dr Martins Ejike said the Federal Government suspended the distribution across the 18 benefiting states.

    Ejike, a deputy director in the agency said that the agency through the collaboration of SEMA and security agencies had successfully distributed fertilisers to beneficiaries in five out of the 23 local governments in the state.

    “It is a national directive that for now we should suspend the distribution. When government says suspend it has a lot of implications or interpretations, it could be for a review of the programme.

    “For now, nobody can predict what the government wants to do.

    “So far, we covered five local governments before the suspension order out of the 23 councils. So we have outstanding 18 councils. We have distributed a total of 39,927 bags and we have a balance of 74, 709 bags.”

    Ejike said the people were so much appreciative of the intervention and were eager to benefit from the distribution.

    NAN reports that each of the enumerated beneficiaries was going home with five bags of the fertiliser.

    Mr Emmanuel Shior, the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider its decision to suspend the distribution of fertiliser to disaster victims in the state.

    Shior said it would only be fair for all enumerated victims to benefit from the intervention programme.

    He said that state acknowledged the importance of the intervention programme, especially because of the huge humanitarian challenge it faced as a result of the disasters.

    “The Federal Government agricultural emergency intervention programme in the state is very useful and the victims themselves have attested to this fact.

    “So, we are saying that since they have started distribution and some local governments have already benefited, it will only be fair if the distribution is completed.”

    He said that the Benue government had directed his agency to put a plane in place for the closure of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and return them to their homes.

    “Gov. Ortom has directed us to put a plane in place to close the camps and return the IDPs to their communities but you see, most of these communities were badly affected, houses and farmlands are destroyed.

    “So if we close the camps now, where will the IDPs go and if we don’t close the camps, are we as a government going to continue keeping them?

    “It is a big problem and we appeal to the Federal Government for intervention,’’ Shior said.

  • ECOWAS Court orders probe of Benue mass killings

    ECOWAS Court orders probe of Benue mass killings

    The Community Court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has ordered the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate the January 2018 mass killings and destruction of property in some communities in five local government areas in Benue State.

    The court, in a judgment on Thursday, also ordered the Nigerian government to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.

    The judgment, according to the court’s spokesperson, Elohor Ovadje, was in a case brought by the estates of seven persons allegedly killed by some Fulani herdsmen in the incident.

    The court held the Nigerian government in “violation of its obligation to protect against known and imminent threat to life in the affected communities from the activities of Fulani herdsmen and in breach of its obligation to investigate the human rights violations that occurred.”

    A three member panel of the court, in the judgment, also ordered the government to ‘redress the victims’ and ‘provide preventive security arrangements to counter any future insurgence in the affected communities in the Adai, Tse Agur, Mbaguene, Guma local government areas of the state.

    The judges of the panel are: Justices Edward Amoako Asante (who presided), Keikura Bangura, and Januaria T. S. Moreira Costa.

    The court however rejected a request by the plaintiffs for an order compelling the government to pay N200 million to each of them as general damages for the untimely loss of their beloved ones in the incident because the ‘plaintiffs failed to prove their case as to the cause of death of their deceased relatives and establish the nexus between their death and the clashes that occurred in their communities.’

    It also rejected the request of the plaintiffs for an order for the government to pay each of them the sum of N1 billion as aggravated and punitive damages as a result of the failure of the Defendant to checkmate the illegal and oppressive act of the fiery Fulani herdsmen in some communities in Benue State,’ as they failed to prove their claims as to the violation of their right to property.

    In the suit marked: ECW/CCJ/APP/16/18, the estates of Mbakpenu Zamber, Nyiev Bohemen, Simon Anyom, Yahuan Bohemen, Atorjime Timbee Timothy, Musega Simon Mtagher and Pius Udughyla, it was alleged the violation of their fundamental human rights and those of their late relatives, particularly the rights to life, dignity, peace, security and equality before the law.

    Also violated, according to the initiating application, were their rights to privacy, property, freedom and protection from inhuman and degrading treatment from domination by a group of people and from all forms of discrimination.

  • I’ll not anoint anybody as my successor – Ortom

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue says he has no plans to anoint anybody as his successor.

    Ortom, while addressing PDP stakeholders’ on Friday in Makurdi, assured them that he would allow the party to field the most acceptable candidate for the governorship election in 2023.

    “If someone tells you that I have anointed him as my successor, tell him that he is lying. I will work with any candidate that the party fields in 2023.

    “Nobody should deceive you that he is my anointed candidate for the 2023 general elections’.”

    The governor, however, advised the party to respect zoning arrangements while deciding people to contest the chairmanship and councillorship seats in local government elections slated to hold Nov. 30.

    “Zoning is the only thing that will give us the results we want at the end of the day. Zoning is very critical in politics.

    “I advise people intending to contest the council polls to back down if the zoning formula is not in their favour. If you are not favoured by the zoning arrangement, do not go there. Do not even buy form. Do not waste your resources.

    “We are going to set up a committee that will collect the results after the primaries. We will screen the results. Any aspirant not favoured by zoning will be disqualified.

    “We are going to do everything in a transparent manner. I am not going to impose any candidate on you.”

    He assured the stakeholders that there were better days ahead, stressing that more contracts would be awarded and more appointments made.

    Ortom added that more jobs would be created and several other things that could be of benefit to them would come their way soon.

    Earlier, PDP Chairman in Benue, Sir John Ngbede, had encouraged the party faithfuls to ensure that the party won overwhelmingly during the forthcoming council polls.

  • Benue suspends health scheme boss over missing N900m

    Benue Executive Council has approved the suspension of Dr Stanley Ugah, the State Programme Manager, Saving One Million Lives, over alleged embezzlement of N900 million of the scheme’s funds.

    This was contained in a press statement issued Thursday by Mr Terver Akase, Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.

    NAN reports that Saving One Million Lives is a partnership health scheme run by the Federal and State governments to expand access to essential primary health care services for women and children.

    The statement stated that Ugah had appeared before the Council but failed to justify how the N900 million was spent.

    The meeting presided over by Gov. Samuel Ortom, ratified the suspension of the programme manager to pave way for thorough investigation into the matter.

    “The suspension of the Programme Manager was to pave way for thorough investigation into the handling of over N900 million being part of the funds meant for the health scheme.

    “The investigation will also ascertain why Benue State took 35th position out of the 36 states in 2017 rating despite the huge sums available to the Programme.”

    It said a three-man panel under the chairmanship of the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Michael Gusa was given one week to investigate the matter and submit its findings to the council.

    According to the statement, the Council also approved two years extension for the State Head of Service, Mrs Veronica Onyeke, who is to retire this year.

  • JUST IN: Osinbajo, Ortom meet over Benue, Ebonyi land crisis

    JUST IN: Osinbajo, Ortom meet over Benue, Ebonyi land crisis

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday met behind closed doors with Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, over the land crisis between the two states.

    The meeting was attended by the Acting Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Adaji Adamu.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Ortom said “We came at the instance of the vice president to discuss the lingering problem between Benue and Ebonyi states in particular between Agila in Benue and Ngbo in Ebonyi.

    “We are also here with the acting DG, National boundary commission and we had taken far-reaching decisions to ensure that we demarcate the boundary between these two states so that we can hold our people responsible.

    “As it is now its difficult to identify the criminal elements who are creating tension and creating more of these problems.

    “So I believe that very soon the boundary commission would be coming out with a program that both Benue and Ebonyi will team up together to provide the necessary logistics and security to ensure that the boundary is demarcated.

    “Well, it’s a border crisis because we are talking about two states. We should know the limits of each states. It’s a border problem more like communal problem.” he said

    On TIV/Jukun crisis, he said, “Well, I know that there is a spillover. This is largely TIV and Jukum in Taraba. I have Jukun in Benue state. We are not fighting. There were issues in the past and I decided to set up a judicial commission of enquiry which is still sitting to look at the remote and immediate causes of this strife so that we will find a lasting solution to it.

    “This other one is more of a problem in Taraba but because there are TIV people in Benue and we are talking about TIV people so each time people are displaying some run back to Benue so that’s the spirit of it.

    “But I think that the governor of Taraba state is doing well. Recently they met and they agreed that there should be ceasefire even though I saw in the press that there were some issues with that peace agreement but you know each time there are efforts to try to solve problems, criminal elements will come in and I think that the steps that the governor took by inviting two sides, both the TIV and the Jukum to sit together and find means of how they can resolve this matter is the best approach.

    “And I believe that once that problem is sorted out in Taraba state, we will not have anything in Benue state.” he said

  • N3.1bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam

    N3.1bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on Monday, re-arraigned former Governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswam on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering at the Federal High Court Abuja.

    Suswam, a serving senator, was re-arraigned before Justice Okon Abang alongside Omadachi Oklobia who was the Commissioner of Finance in Benue when he was governor.

    The duo pleaded not guilty to all charges and were granted bail based on terms earlier granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed after they were arraigned before him in 2015.

    Justice Abang asked counsel in the matter to cooperate with the court warning that he would not entertain any frivolous applications for adjournment.

    Abang took over the trial of Suswam, following the withdrawal of Justice Mohammed from the trial.

    Mohammed had cited a publication by Sahara Reporters which accused him of having been compromised to give Suswam a soft landing as his reason to withdraw from the case.

    Suswam had challenged the jurisdiction of the court presided over by Justice Abang to handle the matter.

    His counsel, Ms Chinelo Ugbozor had arfued on his behalf that the matter had already commenced in another court and four witnesses had been called.

    However, counsel to the EFCC, O.A Atolagbe maintained that a judge could not be compelled to handle a matter.

    Atolagbe reminded the court that since it was the second time, Justice Mohammed was withdrawing from the case, he could not be compelled to hear it.

    The EFCC is prosecuting Suswam and Oklobia on nine counts of money laundering bordering on the alleged diversion of N3.1billion from the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue Government since 2015.

    The matter has been adjourned until Oct. 29, Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.

  • JUST IN: Gunmen abduct PDP chieftain in Benue

    Unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) chieftain Ben Akile on zaki biam on Katsina-Ala road in Benue North-East senatorial district, Benue state.

    Ben Akile was on his way from Zakibiam to Katsina-Ala town for PDP zonal meeting with Senator Gabriel Suswam.

    The meeting was to discuss and find a way out of the present insecurity situation in the zone.

    An eye witness confirmed that the victim, his aide and some PDP members were travelling to Katsina-Ala in a vehicle belonging to the State PDP Legal Adviser, Barr. Tela Mue when gunmen waylaid them on the way .

    He said they shot at them from the bush, robbed them of cash and other valuable before taking Ben Akile to an unknown destination.

    At press time, the gunmen were yet to contact the family of the victim.