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Tag: Benue

  • Herdsmen in military uniform kill 16 in Benue

    Herdsmen in military uniform kill 16 in Benue

    Suspected herdsmen dressed in military uniform yesterday killed 16 people at Agagbe community in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State while several others were either injured or displaced. The gunmen invaded the community about 4.30a.m.

    But the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, (OPWS), Major General Adeyemi Yekini, said only seven people whose bodies had been recovered by his men in what he described as reprisal were killed.

    The OPWS Commander in charge of Gwer West Local Government Area, Flying Officer Mohammed Abubakar, who, along with Yekini, briefed journalists at the Tactical Air Command of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Makurdi, said the invaders were sighted in Agagbe forest rustling cows and he quickly mobilised his men to the area and opened fire on them. According to him, three of the rustlers were killed by troops and were taken to hospital in the area.

    He said: “We later traced them to Ter Nagi’s Palace and discovered 22 cattle, but he (the Ter Nagi) claimed that the cattle belong to him even before the coming of OPWS to the area. “Thereafter, we made contact with the DPO who equally identified the rustlers as members of the Livestock Guard who disguised in military uniform to rustle cattle and butcher them for sale at the Naka market. As I speak with you, they are selling the meat at the market.

    The DPO also gave names of seven persons who are members of the Livestock Guard involved in the attack. “Just this afternoon, our men went on mop up patrol and discovered four additional dead bodies at the scene of the incident.” On his part, Yekini expressed regrets over the attack, noting that some unforeseen forces were deliberately trying to heat up the state.

    Yekini assured the people of the state that his men would continue to perform their job by chasing the armed herdsmen away from the state, but advised those bent on ensuring chaos in the state to desist to avoid being caught by the law. But in a swift reaction, the Ter Nagi, Chief Daniel Abomtse, said there was heavy attack in some communities in his domain.

    Abomtse said the OPWS had been helpful but sometimes, troops would kill cows belonging to herdsmen and chase them away only for the herders to come for a reprisal on his subjects. The Chairman of Gwer West Local Government Area, Francis Ayaga, confirmed that 16 persons were killed by suspected herdsmen, adding that three communities were also not spared.

    Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom yesterday described the killing of 16 people at Agagbe as unfortunate. The governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Terver Akase, that “it was wrong for OPWS to allege that members of the Livestock Guards were involved in the killings and tasked the troops to always verify their source of information rather than relying on unverifiable ones before passing judgement.”

    He said: “This Operation Whirl-Stroke comprises of professional soldiers who supposed to act professionally. They can’t rely on information from unverifiable source to come and say members of Livestock Guards are instigating crisis. Livestock Guards are not armed, neither were they given military uniform by Benue government. So the military should be objective and unbiased in their actions.”

  • Challenge your defeat in court, Ortom tells Akume

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has advised Sen. George Akume (APC-Benue North West) to challenge his loss at Saturday’s Senatorial poll in court.

    Ortom, who handed down the advise on Thursday in Makurdi at a news conference, said the courts were properly constituted to handle such cases.

    “Go to the court and seek redress. The tribunals are already there to address yours issues. That is what a normal person ought to have done.

    “The people of Benue North West Senatorial District have retired Akume from the National Assembly. So, let him go back home. He had been in government for 20 years. All this while he was contesting with people and winning them but they took their defeat in good faith.

    “Akume should rather be grateful to the people for giving him the opportunity to serve them for 20 years at a stretch,” he said.

    He advised youths not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to advance their selfish interest.
    “I also commend Benue residents for heeding to my call for a peaceful for election,” he said.

  • Presidential poll: Atiku wins Benue

    Presidential poll: Atiku wins Benue

    Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has defeated President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the Presidential election in Benue.

    Declaring the results on Tuesday in Makurdi, the State Constituency Collation Officer, Prof Sebastine Maimako, said Atiku polled a total of 355,255 votes to beat his closest rival, Buhari, who scored 347,668 votes.

    He said the total number of votes cast were 761,780, the valid votes were 727,347, the total number of registered voters was 2,391,276 while total accredited votes stood at 786,069.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Atuku won in 13 of 23 Local Government Areas while Buhari won in 10.

    Atiku won in Ukum, Opokwu, Guma, Ogbadibo, Gwer West, Buruku, Logo, Agatu, Apa, Ado, Obi, Gwer East and Katsina -Ala.

    Buhari won in Tarka, Gboko, Otukpo, Oju, Makurdi, Ushongo, Ohimini,
    Kwande, Vandeikya and Konshisha LGAs.

  • 2019: Why I defected to PDP – Ortom

    Gov Samuel Ortom has said that he chose to pursue his governorship ambition on the platform of the PDP because it was a more credible alternative for him to achieve his policies.

    Ortom stated this on Monday in Makurdi, during the flag-off of his governorship campaign.

    The governor, who won his election on the platform of the APC where he defected to, after losing the PDP governorship ticket in 2014, returned to the PDP some months ago.

    “We had to abandon that platform in search of one that offers more accommodation and support for our policies, especially the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017,” he said.

    He regretted that highly paced officials in the APC-led Federal Government made various attempts to frustrate an imperative legislation aimed at finding lasting peace between farmers and herders in the state.

    “Such frustrating efforts by highly placed members of the federal government necessitated my exit from the party to one that will not compromise our stance on a matter so key to the Benue people.

    “This is the platform on which we seek the renewal of our mandate. No one will bend us as far as the Ranching Law is concerned because we draw consent and sustained support from the Benue people,” he said.

    Ortom, while reacting to critics’ allegation that he had not performed, declared that he had done well “given the circumstances of our economy and unwarranted aggression and attacks on Benue”.

    “I may not be a genius, but I perfectly know what I wanted as a governor. I cannot lie to the people that trust me. Take this truth from me; my government has done well, and statistics don’t lie.”

    Commenting on the issue of nonpayment of salaries, the governor said that funds were being sourced to pay outstanding arrears of salaries, gratuities, and pensions.

    Also speaking, the former Senate President, David Mark, appealed to the Benue electorate to vote massively for all candidates seeking elections on the party’s platform to secure a better future for the state.

    The immediate former governor of the state and a senatorial candidate of the party, Mr Gabriel Suswam, accused the APC of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

    He, therefore, urged the people to vote for the PDP and reject the APC.

    Earlier, in his remarks, former Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, also a senatorial candidate, assured Ortom that the people from Benue South Senatorial zone would vote for the PDP.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that dignitaries at the event included the National Deputy Secretary of the party, Mr Emmanuel Agbo, an ex senate president, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, PDP board member, Mrs. Margaret Icheen, and Ortom’s appointees.

  • Panic in Benue as herdsmen set Ortom’s rice farm ablaze

    Suspected herdsmen have set ablaze the over 20,000 hectares of rice farm belonging to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.

    TNG reports that the rice farm is located in Tse-Adorogo, Mbabeagh, Nzorov, Guma Local Government Area of the state.

    According to a report by The Nation, the governor said he had not harvested his rice farm, which is incorporated under Oracle Business Limited, before the suspected herdsmen set it ablaze.

    Oracle Farms, which started when the governor was the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, is into massive rice and soybeans cultivation.

    It was learnt that this was the fourth time Ortom’s farms had been attacked.

    When he was Minster of State in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, suspected herdsmen attacked his Oracle Farm on Naka Road at gunpoint and stole 30 cows.

    The herdsmen struck again in 2014 at his Tse- Adorogo, Mbabeagh country home and set his rice farm and house ablaze.

    When he became governor in 2015, herdsmen again set ablaze his rice farm in 2016 and 2017.

    The governor expressed concern that herdsmen again destroyed crops in the state.

    He reiterated his called for ranching of animals, saying there is no more land for anyone to feed their cattle in the name of grazing.

    “I said ranching is the international best practice for animal husbandry. But if anyone has an alternative method, let him bring it to the table,” he said.

    Ortom urged youths not to take the law into their hands but report to security agencies if any cattle encroached on farm lands in any part of the state.

    The governor however said he would officially visit the rice farm Tuesday to assess the damage done to it by the herdsmen.

     

  • Herdsmen attack Benue community on Xmas eve, kill father of seven

    It was a tragic Christmas for residents of Ukemberagya, Gaambe-Tiev community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State as herdsmen in their numbers reportedly launched attacks on the eve of Christmas Day leading to the death of one Ioewuese Myaga, a father of seven children.

    A community leader in the area, Anawah Joseph added that the whole community had been deserted.

    Anawah said, “Some herdsmen on the eve of Christmas murdered Mr Iorwuese Myaga, a father of seven children, a resident of a settlement in Ukemberagya Gaambe-Tiev.

    “He was murdered by Fulani herdsmen terrorists on his farm where he went to harvest corn.

    “They ambushed and shot him at close range behind in the neck piercing his gullet through the stomach.

    “His corpse was recovered on 25/12/18 and buried at his country home Tse Ikyem, Ukemberagya Gaamne-Tiev Logo LGA Benue state.

    “As of today (Wednesday), the whole community is deserted we are all gathered at NKST Church.”

    The community leader who said that the population of the community is about 300 (three hundred people) further said that the deceased was buried the following day which is Xmas.

    “Until this gruesome murder, Mr Iowuese Myaga was a devout Christian of NKST denomination and an active member of the Tiv choir NKST Chembe consistory,” Anawah said.

    Recall that communities in Logo and Guma local government areas of the state were severely attacked from the New Year day of 2018 till August this year.

    When contacted, the state police command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, said he was yet to be briefed.

  • Herdsmen strike again in Benue, kill four

    Four farmers have been killed by suspected herdsmen in a fresh attack on Tse- Dzungwe, Logo Local Government area of Benue State.

    Killed are Terlumun Uke,Samuel Dwem,and Draba Dwem and Apaaga Mlanga.

    Tse- Dzungwe which is located on the banks of River Benue, has been repeatedly attacked by herdsmen with residents just recovering from a recent invasion before the latest onslaught.

    A spokesman for the community Tyovenda Gbumsy told The Nation that herdsmen moved into the area with a hundreds of cattle which destroyed crops.

    Tyovenda who fled to a neighbouring community said the invasion was reported to soldiers drafted to the state and they chased the herdsmen away.

    He said that soon afterwards,the herdsmen regrouped and launched an attack on Tse- Dzungwe .

    Police Spokesman ,Moses Yamu, a DSP said he was yet to be officially informed about the development.

     

  • 2019: Benue voters will resist rigging, intimidation – Ortom

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has said that the people of the state have resolved to “resist any form of intimidation and rigging during the 2019 general elections”.

    Ortom stated this on Sunday in Jos, while answering questions from newsmen, shortly after a special Church service.

    ”We hear that people are scheming to win elections at all cost; some have openly boasted that they will use force to subvert the people’s wish.

    ”We are on ground and ready to confront anyone with such idea. As long as government is willing to conduct free and fair elections, we are there to support them.

    ”But if anyone attempts to do otherwise, the people will resist that. There is no doubt about it,” he said.

    Ortom, however, appreciated the Federal Government for the prevailing peace in the state and prayed for its sustenance.

    He said that his administration would not hesitate to appreciate the Federal Government when the right was done.

    ”The introduction of `Operation of Whirl Stroke’ has really solved our security challenges in Benue, especially the invasion and attacks by herdsmen.

    ”Some people are trying to change the narrative. They do not want the outside world to hear the truth. The situation gets more shocking when people, who know the truth, choose to say something different.

    ”At the moment, we are happy, but when things are not right, it is our duty to voice it out. We shall continue to do that.

    ”Now, we have appreciated Mr President and the Federal Government for giving us adequate security in the state. If the situation changes tomorrow, we shall shout,” he said.

    Ortom also said that the recent engagement of many youths into various ventures was to prepare them to take over leadership roles in Benue, pointing out that the current crop of leaders would not be there forever.

    ”No matter how lean our resources are, there is every need for us to continue to engage the youths.

    ”That is the motivating factor and I think that has inspired our youths into gainful ventures instead of going into vices like cultism, drugs and so on,” he said.

  • Ortom’s govt behind herdsmen’s killings in Benue – Akume

    Ortom’s govt behind herdsmen’s killings in Benue – Akume

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator George Akume, claimed on Friday that the Benue State Government was behind the attacks by herdsmen in the state, which had consumed hundreds of lives.

    In the course of the relentless attacks, many villages were also reduced to rubble in Benue state.

    On January 1 alone, 75 lives were lost to the herdsmen in the state in one example among many that followed subsequently across several months.

    The Benue killings received both national and international condemnation, especially when the plight of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons became the sight of sadness and sorrows.

    But, Akume, a former Governor of the state, blamed the attacks on the state government.

    He spoke with State House correspondents shortly after he led a delegation of All Progressives Congress members from the state on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The visit was primarily to assure Buhari that the party would mobilise support in Benue State for Buhari’s re-election in 2019.

    Responding to a question on the herdsmen, Akume replied, “When you talk about herdsmen and farmers’ clash, it is a story going good-bye Have you heard of farmers/herders clashes in Benue again? No.

    “We know those who were behind that; government was behind that. I am talking about the state government, through the livestock guards. They knew what was going on. So it is now a thing of the past.

    “Everything that is going there is fraudulent in Benue State and the people are simply tired on this misinformation that they have been receiving. The narrative has changed; it is not question of herdsmen, we are not talking about religious and ethnic bigotry, we are talking about performance of government.”

    A statement by his Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, also said the President was unhappy that some states took bailout to pay salaries but still owed workers.

    On the herdsmen, the President was quoted as saying, “We know about herders. The ones we knew carried sticks, and sometimes cutlasses to cut foliage for their cattle. We now have people who carry AK 47s and pretend they are herdsmen.

  • Man slaughters daughter for sacrifice in Benue

    The Chairman, Konshisha Local Government, Mrs. Justina Ubebe, has confirmed the killing of an infant girl by her father, one John Depuun, as sacrificial offering in a village in Tse-Agberagba in the area.

    Confirming the incident to our reporter in a telephone interview, Ubebe described the act as “strange and bizarre”.

    She said the act, which happened on Wednesday night, had already been reported to the police and that the culprit had been arrested.

    Also, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Yamu, said the culprit had been arrested and investigations were ongoing in the matter.

    NAN