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Tag: Benue

  • Herdsmen planning to kill me, Ortom reveals

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has again raised the alarm that Fulani herdsmen were planning to kidnap, torture and kill him.

    The claimed that the herdsmen’s plan is billed to be hatched along Makurdi-Lafia-Abuyja highway.

    Ortom disclosed this, on Friday, at an interactive session between the church, traditional institution and other stakeholders towards peace building, organised by the Makurdi Catholic Diocese held at the Pastoral Center in Makurdi, in the state capital.

    The governor, who spoke in Tiv language, said he got an intelligence report that the Fulani herdsmen, who are currently occupying part of Guma Local Government Area of the state, were planning to attack him along Makurdi-Abuja-Lafia Road.

    The governor said the armed herdsmen, according to the intelligence report, would ensure that all his security aides were killed after which they would kidnap him, torture him before killing him, adding that already, he had reported the matter to the police and other security agencies.

    Accrording to Governor Ortom, “Therefore, anytime l sleep and wake up and my spirit doesn’t allow me to travel by road, I would call flight operators but just a few days ago, the Federal Government has issued a secular that no flight should land in Makurdi airport again.”

    The governor, who also alleged that some Benue indigenes were conniving with other forces, in Abuja, to kill him, stressed the need for the Federal Government to urgently address the killings across Nigeria by herdsmen militia to pave way for peaceful election in 2019.

    He maintained that most of the polling units in the crisis-affected areas have been destroyed and taken over by the Fulani herdsmen as their grazing fields.

    “The killings across Nigeria is a deliberate attempt by some people either Boko Haram, armed bandits or herdsmen working for the same purpose to disenfranchise large proportion of Nigerians from voting for the leaders of their choice.

    “Amnesty international had come out to disclose that over 19,000 people have lost their lives in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Plateau states to herdsmen attacks and this does not speak well of Nigeria nation especially as we are heading towards 2019.”

    While lamenting that Benue indigenes have become destitute and refugees in their fathers’ lands,Governor Ortom further disclosed that pockets of killings were still going on in Makurdi, Guma, Logo and Katsina Ala local government areas of the state.

    He explained further that most of the farmlands along the borderlines of Taraba and Nasarawa states have been taken over by herdsmen militia who currently occupy the areas to the detriment of the indigenes.

  • Threat to Saraki: Miyetti Allah now a ruling party in Nigeria – Benue Government

    The Benue State Government has described the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association as Nigeria’s new ruling party and decision maker.

    The government said this in response to the call by the Coordinator of MACBAN in Benue State, Garus Gololo, that the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, should resign or be forced out of office.

    In a statement by Terver Akase, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom, the Benue State Government said there is no difference between the threat by Gololo and that of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, to Saraki.

    The statement reads: “We find it strange that many hours after such inciting comments, the man who spoke on behalf of the group has not been invited by security operatives for questioning. The association asked the Senate President to resign or it will force him out of office. What an insult to democracy!

    “It is becoming clear by the day that Miyetti Allah groups have not only assumed the position of the ruling party but are also influential to decisions of governance in this country.

    “What constitutional right does the group have to spew invectives on the person and office of the Senate President without being arrested? Are security agencies sending a signal to

    Nigerians that Miyetti Allah groups are above the law and therefore untouchable?

    “This is not the first time that Miyetti Allah associations have made inflammatory statements. The other time, the groups held press conferences and threatened to unleash terror on Benue people.

    “They made real their threats and came out to claim responsibility for the killing of over 500 innocent Benue people between January and this month. They followed their gory act with threats of more bloodshed in Benue till the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law is suspended.

    “The Benue State Government wrote several petitions alerting the country’s security chiefs. Yet, nothing was done and to this day, no Miyetti Allah leader has been invited by security agencies for interrogation.

    “The boldness and authoritative tone with which leaders of Miyetti Allah associations speak on affairs of the nation leave us wondering if the speculation is true, that they plan to turn Nigeria to a Cow Republic.

    “Miyetti Allah and the All Progressives Congress, APC now sound like one association with similar objectives. Nigerians should compare the tone of APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole when he threatened that the party would force Senator Saraki out of office if he failed to resign and the latest threat by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to forcefully evict Senator Saraki from office. The words are similar, the motive the same and the agenda also one.

    “What is the source of Miyetti Allah groups’ authority to make statements injurious to the very soul of this country that no one seems to be calling them to order?

    “Who is behind the Miyetti Allah groups, and what is the person’s mission?

    “We urge Nigerians to reject this attempt to turn the country into a republic where the life of a cow has greater value than that of a human being. This level of impunity is not healthy for the nation. For democracy to be successful, it must be anchored on the rule of law.
    “On Miyetti Allah’s attacks against Governor Ortom in the same media report, we are no longer surprised as the groups have never hidden their obsession with the Governor’s name. No day passes without the said groups coming out with one publication or the other against the Governor.

    “The sad news for them is that Governor Ortom and Benue people won’t bow to intimidation and harassment from them or any other person. The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law which they hate so much has come to stay and anyone who intends to breed livestock in Benue should be prepared to ranch the animals.”

  • Alleged fraud: EFCC grills two Benue officials

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday grilled two Benue State Government officials in connection with huge withdrawal of N23, 429, 938, 951.52 from the state accounts.

    Those questioned are a Director of Finance and Accounts in the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Gbaigyo Emmanuel, and a cashier, Andoor Festus.

    The EFCC also discovered that another suspect, Agbo Amada, has been dismissed by the state government to “avoid making him available for interrogation.”But this claim has not been independently verified by TNG

    The list of the accounts where the withdrawals were made was released by the anti-graft agency on Friday.

    The accounts and the funds are as follows:

    • Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs—N792, 039,884.00 (Sterling Bank —0017836093)
    • Joint State and Local Account—N1, 367, 043, 651.52(Fidelity Bank—5030058730)
    • Benue State Government House— N1, 916, 635, 206.00( UBA-1017348051)
    • Benue State Bureau of Internal Service and Special Service—N11,827, 455, 250 (UBA—1007540119)
    • Benue State Bureau of Internal Service and Special Service—N5, 886, 237, 150( First Bank—2023788057)
    • Benue State Bureau of Internal Service and Special Service—N1, 640, 527, 540 (Zenith Bank—1010653167)

    Recall that the state government during the week accused the EFCC of freezing its accounts. The action was roundly criticised by opposition parties, many groups and the Governors’ Forum.

    On Thursday, the accounts were defrozen.

    Alluding to the freezing of the account, another source in EFCC said: “The EFCC is not out to shut down the government in Benue State. We have been conducting investigation in the last two years. There is no political witch-hunt in any manner.

    “All we did is to caution withdrawal from these accounts with ‘Place No Debit’ which does not last more than 72 hours.

    “Despite the fact that the EFCC uncovered massive withdrawals from these accounts in tranches of N10million, top government officials have continued to divert funds paid into these accounts from the Federation Account.

    “As an anti-graft agency, the EFCC has the obligation to check diversion of public funds and money laundering.

    “We are continuing with investigation of these accounts. On Friday, a team of detectives grilled the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Gbaigyo Emmanuel and a cashier, Andoor Festus.

    “We are looking for another official, Agbo Amada, who has been dismissed by the state government to avoid making him available for interrogation.”

     

     

  • Again, gunmen attack Benue community, kill nine, set houses ablaze

    Suspected gunmen have attacked Tse Ujoh community in Ikyurav-Tiev in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State and left about nine persons dead.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, DSP Moses Yamu confirmed that nine people were killed from the attack.

    The state Governor, Samuel Ortom, decried incessant attacks on Katsina Alla axis, while also confirming that nine people were killed.

    Ortom described as unacceptable, the latest attack on the area.

    The Governor, who reacted in Makurdi through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, disclosed that troops had been deployed to the affected area to bring the situation under control.

    Ortom assured the people of Katsina-Ala that measures had been put in place to prevent further attacks in the area, adding that three persons have been arrested in connection with the attack.

    The statement further said, “Governor Ortom reassured the people of the state that his administration will not allow armed militia to continue to terrorize communities.

    “He encouraged anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of the gang members to contact the police, Department of State Service or the military”.

    According to the Punch, the Benue PPRO, Yamu added, “We got information that some militia suspected to be of Shitile attacked Tse Ujoh village of Ikyurav-Tiev council ward where nine people were killed.”

  • EFCC unfreezes Benue Govt accounts

    EFCC unfreezes Benue Govt accounts

    The Benue State government on Thursday revealed that the Economic Financial Crimes Commission has unfrozen its bank accounts.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom, Mr Terver Akase, confirmed the new development on Thursday, reports Channels Television.

    EFCC had frozen the accounts of the state government domiciled in three banks on Tuesday, saying it was investigating alleged abuse of the state’s security votes.

  • Benue, Akwa Ibom: NGF speaks on EFCC’s power to freeze states’ accounts

    The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has described as unconstitutional the freezing of the accounts of Akwa Ibom and Benue State Governments by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, the Chairman of NGF, spoke with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Recall that the EFCC had on Tuesday froze the state’s account which was confirmed by Terver Akase, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The anti-graft agency also froze the Akwa Ibom State accounts on Wednesday.

    Yari said that by the security situation in Benue, it was not wise to dislocate the state financially.

    “If EFCC freezes the accounts of any state government, Benue or anywhere else, I think it is unconstitutional, it is not right, because you are shutting down government.

    “Government must spend, more especially Benue where there are issues of insecurity.

    “So, we do not know why the EFCC took the action. I do not think it is correct, but if it is correct, then my own point of view is wrong.

    “But I believe this government will not sit down and oversee unlawful operations happening from the security agencies.

    “From what happened yesterday, someone can understand that this government is following due process and laws of Nigeria.

    “EFFC’s action in Benue is something that should be reversed,’’ he said.

    Speaking on Tuesday’s blockade of the National Assembly, Yari said it was very unfortunate, but however, said that the attendant reaction by the acting president had vindicated the federal government in the eyes of local and international communities.

    He recalled that similar incidents occurred in 2011 and 2014 respectively but no serious action was taken by the then government.

    According to him, the government of Muhammadu Buhari is following due process and will never oversee unlawful activities within the security agencies.

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, who was also in the Presidential Villa, told correspondents that Tuesday’s incident at the National Assembly was an embarrassment which should not have been allowed to happen.

    On defection of his deputy, Hafizu Abubakar, to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ganduje said there was no cause for alarm.

    According to him, it is the season of defection as the All Progressives Congress (APC) is also receiving defectors from other parties.

    “The state House of Assembly wanted to impeach him but I was prevailing on them but they insisted, when he saw the handwriting on the wall, he decided to resign.

    “They wanted to continue with the impeachment because he committed some impeachable offences, but I pleaded and they dropped the charges and allowed him to go, that is politics,’’ he said.

     

  • BREAKING: EFCC freezes accounts of Akwa Ibom, Benue states

    Information reaching TNG has it that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the bank accounts of the Akwa Ibom and Benue state governments.

    A top official of the Akwa Ibom state government confirmed the development to newsmen on Wednesday.

    The source said Udom Emmanuel, the governor, and accountant-general of the state were shocked by the development.

    The report of the freezing of Akwa Ibom government accounts happened 24 hours after the commission blocked those of Benue government.

    Recall that a former governor of the state and a serving senator, Godswill Akpabio is currently decamping to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at a special rally organized for him in the state.

    Akpabio had earlier tendered his resignation as the Minority Leader of the Senate.

    Meanwhile, the Benue State authorities also confirmed that the funds meant to pay the salaries of workers and pensioners in state have also been frozen by the EFCC.

    “Accounts of the Benue State Government have been frozen by EFCC,” Terver Akase, a spokesperson for Governor Samuel Ortom, said in a statement.

    “It is part of the political witch-hunt against Governor Samuel Ortom. The action of EFCC is already having negative impact on the running of government in Benue State. It is a move that will affect salaries, pensions and other sundry payments,” Akase said.

    His confirmation came a day after the Vanguard reported that at least three bank accounts which the state held with GTBank, First Bank and Fidelity Bank had been blocked by the anti-graft office as part of a corruption probe.

    Several reports last week said the EFCC was investigating Ortom for up to N22 billion in security funds allegedly feared plundered under his supervision.

    The governor has denied the allegations, saying they were amongst a desperate plot to oust him as governor. He said the plot was bu to his recent defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

    Ortom is also facing a battle with some APC lawmakers in the state who are scheming to remove him from office. Initial attempts by eight lawmakers to serve the governor a notice of impeachment were rebuffed by his loyalists and condemned across the country, including by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Akase emphasised the political undertone of the EFCC’s action in his statement Wednesday, warning the agency not to allow itself be used by political players.

    “The question we are asking is; why did EFCC not investigate the Governor’s security votes when he was still a member of APC? Why start the investigation now?

    “EFCC should not allow itself to be used as an attack dog unleashed against perceived political opponents’” Mr Akase said.

    The reported freezing comes days after the APC accused Mr Ortom of squandering security votes and politicising the deaths of his state residents. Mr Ortom strongly denied the allegations.

    “Let the Federal Government tell us how much it has spent on prosecuting the fight against Boko Haram and how much it spent on the other operations such as Python Dance, Crocodile Smile and Whirl Stroke.

    “Benue has suffered heavy attacks by Fulani herdsmen since the beginning of the year. Within the period, the State Government has spent a lot to legitimately support security agencies to protect the people of the state. Governor Ortom has not diverted funds. He runs a transparent administration.

    “We welcome the investigation, but as I said earlier, it should start from the presidency and go across the 36 states. Benue should not be singled out for victimisation, intimidation and harassment as the federal government with its agencies is currently doing,” Mr Akase said.

    However, efforts to reach the spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren for comments was unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.

     

  • Several dead, others injured as troops battle militia in Benue

    Troops of the Nigerian Army attached to the Operation Whirl Stroke have engaged militiamen in a camp discovered in the Akor community in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, killing scores of the armed men.

    The troops, on Saturday while on a clearance operation along Gbajimba to Akor area, found the men armed with AK-47 rifles with large herds of cattle.

    A gun battle was said to have ensued, during which the troops dislodged the armed men from their camp.

    The army said the troops killed an “unspecified number of the militiamen while others escaped into nearby bushes with gunshot injuries.”

    The weapons recovered from the militia group were one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 rifle magazines, 60 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and five motorcycles.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, who confirmed the incident, said efforts were on to get other fleeing members of the militia group.

    Chukwu said, “Troops deployed in Operation Whirl Stroke in the Guma LGA encountered militiamen with large herds of cattle.

    “The troops dislodged the militiamen from their camp following superior firepower. Unspecified numbers of the men were killed by the troops. Efforts are on to get other fleeing members of the militia.”

    Meanwhile, troops of the 222 Battalion deployed in Operation Lafiya Dole on Friday, while on an ambush operation around Malari village in Borno State, killed two Boko Haram terrorists.

    Other terrorists reportedly fled into the bush with gunshot injuries.

    The army spokesman, Chukwu, said 10 bicycles were recovered from the terrorists during the encounter.

    Also, troops of the Nigerian Army attached to the Operation Lafiya Dole have arrested a Boko Haram terrorist on the wanted list, Maje Lawan, in the Banki Local Government Area of Borno State.

    The suspect, who is number 96 on the wanted list published by the army, was apprehended after he sneaked into an Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in the Banki area.

    The army had in October 2015 released the names of 100 wanted Boko Haram terrorists to the public, saying the public should assist the troops with information to enable their arrest.

    In November 2016, the army released the photographs of another batch of 55 wanted Boko Haram terrorists.

    Most of the terrorists have yet to be arrested.

    Chukwu said, “Troops on Saturday arrested Lawan at Banki. The suspect is believed to be number 96 on the wanted list. He is currently undergoing preliminary investigation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action.

    “The public are reminded to be vigilant and to report any suspicious person, movements and activities for prompt action.”

  • Ortom yet to be served impeachment notice- Benue Speaker

    The new Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Titus Ugba, has said that the Executive Governor of Benue State, Mr Samuel Ortom, is yet to be served an impeachment notice, adding that the eight lawmakers cannot give impeachment notice and thereafter seek for signatures for impeachment.

    Ugba stated this while speaking with journalists in Lagos, at the 2018 Conference of Speakers hosted by the Lagos State House of Assembly, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja Saturday.

    He stressed that the eight lawmakers did not follow the due process in serving the Governor Impeachment notice, adding that there was no plan to impeach the governor, adding further that the police had been giving court order to vacate the assembly complex for the lawmakers to perform their legislative duties.

    The Speaker expressed confidence in leading the Assembly despite the crisis in the state, debunking the allegation against the Governor on the payment of N20million to a Boko Haram suspect.

    He said that the security apparatus at the IDPs camp have been withdrawn and that herdsmen have started coming back into Benue State.

    Ugba added “Benue has once again demonstrated that democracy is a thing of the people. On the 24th of July to be precise, 22 members came together to say they are tired of what the previous speaker was doing and now they made me the speaker of Benue State House of Assembly.

    “When I came here yesterday I was not initially allowed to participate in the speakers conference but the speakers rose that I have to attend because it is not the conference of Speakers that determines who is the speaker of the House. So, I was allowed because the conference is not about partisan but coming together as a family to promote the unity of this country”

    He stated further that “The eight members in Benue State did not give the Governor Impeachment notice; they said they are looking for signatures to impeach him.

    “You can’t give impeachment notice before seeking for signatures of members for Governor’s impeachment,” he said.

  • 2019: How APC will win back Sokoto, Benue, Kwara, others – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has revealed how his party will win back the states whose governors recently defected to the People Democratic Party (PDP).

    Oshiomhole who spoke to reporters at the Bénin Airport on his way to Sapele, Delta State on Friday, said the APC would continue to engage and pro-attack, whether the opposition called him an attack dog or not.

    The former Edo State governor added that APC would deploy labour tactics to humble the PDP in Kwara, Benue and Sokoto states.

    He said: “I asked you to understand that what is at stake is beyond the APC and the PDP. Nigeria is much more than the sum total of all the political parties.

    “We will see who is who in February next year. In Edo, they made this argument that politics is different from labour, but we used labour tactics to humble them and they became converted.

    “Exactly the same way we used it in Edo, we will use it either in Kwara, Benue or Sokoto or anywhere.

    “This is not about me, it is not about them, it is about the Nigerian people.

    “I will not adopt the ruling class tactics to deal with a cankerworm of disease. I offer a different style in order to get a different outcome.”

    Addressing thousands of APC supporters who were at the Bénin Airport to welcome him, Oshiomhole said the APC under his leadership would not borrow what he termed other people’s style.

    Oshiomhole urged APC supporters not to despair as he would work with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the party meets their aspirations.

    He promised to work with Governor Godwin Obaseki to ensure that any concerns the party members have would be addressed satisfactorily.

    He said: “I will represent the feelings, the aspirations and I will meet your expectations as far as the running of the All Progressives Congress is concerned.

    “We will have to fight odds on the basis of our conviction and we will adjust our style. We will not borrow other people’s style.

    “I am very proud of my working class background and we will bring those values into the leadership and management of the APC.

    “I will ensure working together with President Buhari to see that government focuses on the people; that government will not focus on the welfare of the few at the expense of the majority; that government must do everything possible to ensure that those who work have something to show for their labour.

    “We must support the President and the APC to remove all those thieves, all those looters who believe it is their birthright to continue to loot.

    “I want to assure you that the tradition of carrying our people along will be sustained.

    “You represent what I call our infantry division. You are the ones who on election day ensure that our voters come out. You were the ones who ensured that the PDP rigging machine was defeated.

    “We must keep you as a standing point. Together we will match on and will ensure that everyone who works is looked after.

    “I know there are people with all kinds of stories, but let me assure you that after the storm, the weather will settle.

    “Trust me, as you have not abandoned me, I will never abandon you.

    “To our youths, I want to particularly appeal to you: don’t lose faith. There will be work, there will be participation, there will be involvement. We will not throw anybody away.

    “Nobody will be used and dumped. If yesterday has come beautiful, tomorrow will be better,” he stated.