TheNewsGuru

Tag: Benue

  • Pandemonium as herdsmen invade Benue community, allegedly order villagers to vacate homes

    There was pandemonium on Monday in Mbatoho community in Makurdi, Benue State capital as suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the area.

    Mbatoho community is a council ward located on an Island in Makurdi town.

    Leader of the community, who identified himself as John Tehemen, led a few other residents to lodge a complaint with deputy governor, Benson Abounu, saying that the herdsmen had ordered them to vacate their homes.

    He said, “Herdsmen who were fully armed with sophisticated weapons early hours of yesterday (Monday) stormed our community, Mbatoho, and ordered everyone to leave.

    “The herdsmen came in large numbers but they did not harm anyone; they only asked us to leave,” Tehemen said. He gave the population of the community to be about 5,000.

    In response, the deputy governor said the government had just received the information from the community, adding that he had ordered the security adviser, Paul Hemba, to go and find out the situation.

    “The community has just come to inform us about the attack; I have directed the security adviser to report to Police and find out the situation of things. The village is right here (pointing towards River Benue) across the river.

    When asked whether the state government is not worried that herdsmen might use the place as a launch pad, Abounu said government would determine the line of action when it establishes the true story.

    When contacted on phone, the state commissioner of police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, confirmed receiving the report while assuring that investigation would commence immediately.

  • Troops nab 10 herdsmen in Benue destroying farmland

    Troops deployed to Yelwata under the ongoing Exercise Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) have arrested 10 herdsmen destroying farmland at Tse-Tigir and Tse-Ndugh villages of Benue.

    Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement issued late Monday night in Abuja, said the suspects fled into the bush when they sighted the troops.

    “While in the act of destroying the farmland, the herdsmen sighted the aggressive troops and fled into the bush.

    “The determined troops pursued and arrest them.

    “Items recovered from them are five motorcycles, two machetes, assorted charms and N120,000,” he said.

    Chukwu said the suspects and the items were handed over to the Police for investigation.

    The spokesman said the Army was determined to fish out criminals and recover weapons they use in killing innocent citizens.

    He appealed to the people to cooperate with the troops.

     

  • Over one million cows have invaded Benue, Ortom raises alarm

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Monday raised fresh alarm of the invasion of over a million cows in Benue State; a sign of another possible attack.

    The governor said this when he led the senior pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Paul Enenche, and his wife, Becky, to the cemetery of the 73 victims of the New Year Fulani herdsmen attacks.

    The governor hinged his alarm on the influx of over one million cattle into the state despite the launch of Ayem Akpatuma military exercise last Tuesday.

    Governor Ortom, who decried the influx of herdsmen into the state, appealed to the military to flush out the invaders so that the over 160,000 displaced persons who had been in eight camps could return to their homes.

    Ortom further said that more than 60 persons, including three people killed last week in Guma Local Government Area of the state, have been killed since the mass burial of the 73 persons initially killed by herdsmen in the New Year attacks.

    “We appreciate president Buhari for the deployment of soldiers to the state to keep the peace, but our concern is the influx of over one million cows into the state despite the presence of the military.”

    Conducting funeral service at the cemetery, Enenche anointed the land to signify the breaking of the yoke, declaring that the burial would also connote the interment of security failure, impunity, Jihadist agenda and all forms of evils.

    He also prayed for God’s judgment against the killers and their sponsors throughout the country and charged the earth to rise up against them.

  • Three herdsmen jailed for open grazing in Benue

    Three herdsmen are to spend the next one year in jail after a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Friday found them guilty of violating the Benue State Anti-Open Grazing Law, 2017.

    Jailed are Iliya Garba, Hassan Abdullahi, and Lanshak Lonfalk who were all charged with criminal conspiracy and open nomadic livestock rearing and grazing.

    The offences are punishable under Sections 97 of the Penal Code and 19 (2) of the Open Grazing Prohibition Ranches Establishment Law of Benue, 2017.

    Prosecutor Michael Iorundu told the court that the joint patrol team of `Operation Zenda,’ led by Sgt. Edward Shinyi, arrested the herders on February 18.

    He said that they were brought to the State Criminal and Investigation Department, Makurdi.

    “The team reported that the three herders and others now at large, were openly grazing their cattle along Yeluwata Road in Guma Local Government Area of Benue.

    “When the case came up for mention, the herders pleaded guilty to the charge against them, saying that they were not aware that open grazing had been prohibited in Benue,’’ he said.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Lillian Tsumba said that the herders were first offenders who were also illiterates and not even aware that open grazing has been prohibited in Benue.

    Tsumba said that a law such as open grazing prohibition required massive exposure and education of persons at the grassroots.

    She, however, said law is law and must be obeyed in spite ignorance.

  • How we’re tackling herders/farmers clashes in Benue, Taraba, others – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday unveiled the strategies by the Federal Government in tackling the herdsmen/ farmers clashes in Benue, Taraba and other states.

    According to statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity Laolu Akande, the government has been deploying mobile police forces, army and Air Force to troubled areas and Nigerian Army formations and units in Benue State.

    Osinbajo said “The approach of the government has been to deploy mobile police forces to troubled areas and also both the army and Air Force, the Nigerian Army formations and units in Benue State for example, especially 72 Special Forces Battalion, have consistently maintained Forward Operating Bases at the flash areas covering Guma, Logo, Katsina-Ala and Agatu Local Government Areas.

    “The operation has the generic name Operation MESA, but it is nicknamed Operation ZENDA in Benue State. The Army had within the last few days scaled up the size of troops and equipment in Agatu, Guma, Katsina-Ala and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.

    “The Army also recently deployed troops at Awe and Tunga Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, in order to monitor and block the gaps that were presumed to be used as staging points by armed herdsmen to attack communities in Benue State.

    “Additionally, troops of 93 Battalion, Takum in Taraba State, also occupy blocking positions as well as maintain constant liaison with troops in Benue State.

    “Furthermore, the command and control structure of the Army formations and units in Benue and contiguous states have been reorganized.

    “Accordingly, more troops were deployed and the Commander 707 Special Forces Brigade was reassigned to Taraba State for effective command and control of troops operating in the entire Benue/Taraba general area. And next week, the Nigerian Army will flag-off Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA, to checkmate the activities of armed bandits and militias in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and environs.”

  • Benue massacre: Ortom appears before senate over herdsmen, farmers clashes

    Governor Samuel Ortom is currently meeting with the Senate in the ongoing probe by the upper chamber of the National Assembly into the killings by herdsmen in Benue State.

    The governor is appearing before the joint Senate Committee on Police Affairs; and National Security and Intelligence, especially on his indictment by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, over his alleged culpability in the security crisis in the state.

    The meeting is ongoing behind closed doors.

     

    Details later…

  • Herdsmen/farmers crisis: Stop meddling in our issues in Benue, Ortom warns Lalong

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has warned his counterpart in Plateau State, Governor Simon Lalong, to ‘mind his own business’ and not to interfere with the issue of Benue.

    Ortom said this to the representative of Lalong at the stakeholders’ meeting with the National Economic Council Technical Committee on Herdsmen/Farmers’ Crises Resolution.

    The stakeholders were led by the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi.

    Ortom said his deputy, Benson Abounu, informed him about the discussion between him and Lalong, where the Plateau State Governor reiterated his warning to Ortom not to go ahead with the Benue State anti-open grazing law.

    Ortom said, “My deputy told me that he had a discussion with Lalong recently at a function, where he (Lalong) said that he had to apologise to me over his statement because of pressure on him, saying, he stands by his earlier statement.

    “He also told the people that he introduced this woman (pointing at the woman on the high table) in this committee to me, whereas, this woman was introduced to me by Nasir el-Rufai, not him.

    “Thank God he has a representative here; please tell him to stop interfering with the affairs of my state; let him mind his business in Plateau and I will mind my own business here.

    “I am the governor here (Benue); how can he say that he warned me? Who is he to warn me? He can only advise me.”

    Lalong had at the peak of the herdsmen’s attacks on Benue State told newsmen in Abuja that he warned Ortom against the new law.

    The stakeholders’ meeting held at the new banquet hall of the state government house on Sunday night.

    The meeting, which dragged into the early hours of Monday, had in attendance some National Assembly members, religious leaders, traditional rulers and opinion moulders.

    Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, HRM Prof. James Ayatse, questioned the credibility of the committee since some of its members had at one time or the other taken position on the Benue crisis.

    According to him, the governors of Plateau and Kaduna State – Lalong and El-Rufai, respectively – had made cynical statements concerning the crisis and asked, ‘how do we get justice?’

    “While in pains, a Benue delegation visited President Buhari and the only consolation he could give us was to say, ‘In the name of God, accommodate your fellow countrymen.’ With this statement, how will my people get justice?”

    The paramount ruler charged the committee members to be neutral and discharge their responsibility with the fear of God.

    Other who spoke at the meeting included the Catholic Bishop, Makurdi Diocese, Wilfred Anagbe; a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mike Aondoaka, (SAN); and a former commissioner in the state, Mrs. Rebecca Akpedzan.

    Others were the President General, Mdzough U Tiv, Chief Edward Ujege; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Benard Hon; the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Benue State, Rev. Akpen Negua, and a second-class traditional ruler, Chief A. Abomtse.

    All the speakers condemned what they termed the lacklustre attitude of the Federal Government to the crisis and insisted that there was no going back on the new law.

  • Two missing police officers found ‘unhurt’ in Benue

    Two Police on Sunday confirmed that two of its operative who went missing in an ambush in Benue State have been found unhurt.

    The officers were amongst four mobile policemen who were declared missing after a police patrol team drove into an ambush by suspected herdsmen in Logo Local Government Area on Saturday afternoon.

    But the remaining two officers are still missing, Benue police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed to newsmen on Sunday.

    “Two officers rejoined their colleagues. Unhurt. Hoping to see the remaining two,” the commissioner said.

    The returned officers appeared at the police station in Ayilamo, near Azege town where the attack occurred, late last night. Rescue efforts coordinated by the police had been underway since Saturday evening.

    The commissioner of police in charge of mobile police officers arrived the state Sunday morning to lead the search and rescue efforts, which were still ongoing as at 11:40 a.m.

    Another officer who sustained gunshot wounds is undergoing treatments at the hospital in Ayilamo, residents and police sources said.

    The men were returning from a confidence-building mission in remote villages when suspected herdsmen reportedly opened fire on them in Tse Akpam village, near Azege town.

    “We had had an encounter around Azege when a team of mobile police went on confidence patrol,” Owoseni said while confirming the new development. “When they were coming back at a point in Azege, they started hearing gunfire from inside the bush suspected to be from the herdsmen. There was a serious exchange of gunfire.”

    The attackers also burnt a police Toyota Hilux van after the officers inside fled into nearby bushes

    The police said they’re expecting confirmation of casualties on the side of the attackers, but no suspects had been arrested.

  • Four policemen missing as ‘herdsmen’ ambush police team in Benue

    Four policemen missing as ‘herdsmen’ ambush police team in Benue

    Four police officers were declared missing following an attack on a patrol team in Logo Local Government Area on Saturday.

    The officers were said to be returning from a confidence-building mission in remote villages when suspected herdsmen opened fire on them in Tse Akpam village, near Azege town, Benue Police Command confirmed.

    “We had an encounter around Azege when a team of mobile police went on confidence patrol,” said State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni.

    He stated further: “When they were coming back at a point in Azege, they started hearing gunfire from inside the bush suspected to be from the herdsmen.There was a serious exchange of gunfire.”

    Owoseni said the attackers burnt a police van and four officers could not be found as at 7:20 p.m. Saturday.

    He said police officer who sustained gunshot injury was taken to the hospital in Ayilamo, the headquarters of Tombo Council Ward about eight kilometres from Azege where the attack occurred.

    “One of our vehicles was set ablaze. So far, on their side, we are still trying to ascertain casualties; while we are yet to see four of our men,” he said.

    He said more officers have been dispatched to the areas to comb for the missing officers.
    The attack comes a day after three persons were killed in separate assaults on villages in the same local government area Thursday night.

    Three persons who sustained injuries in the attacks are currently undergoing treatments at the hospital.
    The Thursday night attack occurred near Anyiin, a town in Logo Local Government Area that serves as a base for police special forces.

    Owoseni said Saturday’s attack should be seen as an evidence of police’s proactive approach towards the crisis.

    “People are saying police are not working, but going on confidence-building patrol is being proactive,” Owoseni said.

    “If we didn’t go on patrol, how would we have suffered this attack?”

    The Commissioner said Azege and its environs are safe, urging the residents to believe in the ability of police to return peace to the entire state.

    “We will not relent, we will continue to take the fight to them and give assurances to the people that we won’t wait until they come and attack them,” he said.

  • Herdsmen/farmers clashes: NAF to establish operational units in Taraba, Benue-Nassarawa axis

    The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar on Friday disclosed plans by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to establish a Forward Operational Base (FOB) in Taraba State, as part of plans to further tackle the incessant herdsmen-farmers clash in the country.

    The CAS, who disclosed the plans while delivering a lecture to participants of National Defence College (NDC) Course 26 in Abuja, also announced plans to establish a Quick Response Wing along the Benue-Nassarawa Axis.

    The title of the lecture, which lasted one hour, was ‘The Nigerian Air Force – Challenges and Future Perspectives’.

    Participants of the Course are drawn from senior officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and those of sister African countries, senior officials of other security agencies in Nigeria as well as those of Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    The lecture afforded the CAS to share thoughts with the participants on how the National Defence Policy prescribes that the NAF should be employed, out of which the mission statement of the NAF was coined. Air Marshal Abubakar also spoke on the current and likely threats as well as contingencies from the perspective of air operations.

    He then elucidated on his vision for the NAF while also highlighting current efforts at actualizing it. Some of the initiatives included but are not limited to the establishment of new commands and some units, improvement in human capacity development, improved aircraft serviceability and logistics support as well as enhanced personnel welfare.

    He also spoke about the efforts being made in the area of research and development towards improved self-sufficiency, as a result of which the NAF is currently making great savings in foreign exchange. Thereafter, he discussed the current NAF Force structure, doctrine, current capabilities and equipment holding in response to threats alongside the NAF’s strategic plan before looking at NAF future perspectives.

    The CAS equally examined the challenges and constraints to the NAF’s air power effectiveness before concluding the lecture by discussing the strategies to countering the challenges enumerated. The lecture was followed by a stimulating interactive session.

    In his closing remarks, the Commandant of NDC, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, declared that “You cannot win any war today without an effective and virile Air Force”. He then added that there was no doubt that the current NAF leadership is taking a lot of laudable and unprecedented steps, especially in the area of technological development, in a bid to reposition the NAF for greatness.

    He particularly cited the recent feats by the NAF in locally designing and producing an operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, among many other breakthroughs in the area of research and development. He then seized the opportunity to congratulate the CAS on the recent passage of the bill establishing the Air Force Institute of Technology Kaduna, which he believed would further enhance technological growth in the NAF.

    Recall that NAF had also earlier announced plans to establish FOBs in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, as part of its commitment to combatting emerging security challenges in those parts of the country.