TheNewsGuru

Tag: Killings

  • Army arrest Ortom’s aide for alleged involvement in Benue killings

    …We’ll allow the law take its course – Benue Government

    The Nigerian Army on Friday arrested the head of Benue Livestock Guards, Alhaji Aliyu Teshaku for allegedly masterminding recent killings in Benue State.

    Teshaku was arrested on Friday by the Army’s 707 Special Forces Brigade in Makurdi on suspicion of his involvement in some of the deadly attacks recorded across the state since January 1.

    The Army said Teshaku was a Boko Haram suspect and his arrest had input from the police and the State Security Service (SSS).

    Some of the allegations include his alleged involvement in the attack on a Catholic Church on Tuesday in which at least 15 worshipers were killed, including two Catholic priests.

    But some Benue activists are seeing his arrest as a persecution for his fierce opposition to herdsmen activities in the state.

    Recall that leaders of the Miyetti Allah have repeatedly called for Teshaku’s arrest, accusing him of enforcing the anti-open grazing law and leading a militia allegedly raised by the governor.

    While announcing the arrest, Olabisi Ayeni, spokesperson for the Nigerian Army in Makurdi, said security agents moved in time to prevent attacks that were being hatched by Teshaku and his cohorts in Bauchi, Borno and Yobe and Nasarawa States.

    The Army described him as Aminu Yaminu (a.k.a.: Tashaku), but findings revealed that the suspect’s name is Aliyu Teshaku.

    He was once detained at the Force Headquarters in June 2011 when he turned himself in after being declared wanted as a Boko Haram suspect. But he was later released by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), then headed by Babagana Monguno, now the National Security Adviser, in September 2011.

    The police said they released him to the DIA in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation after the agency requested for him.

    Teshaku, however, denied the allegations in an interview in March, saying the DIA released him because there was no evidence to establish his connection to Boko Haram.

    The arrest is seen by some Benue officials as a setback for Governor Samuel Ortom administration’s efforts against the activities of herdsmen in the state.

    Teshaku became the head of Civilian Joint Task Force tasked with checking herdsmen attacks in Benue and Nasarawa States in 2013. But his group later changed its name to Benue Livestock Guards following the introduction of anti-open grazing law in Benue State last year.

    The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Benue State has long accused Teshaku of terrorising herdsmen and other Benue residents of Hausa or Fulani origin.

    Following the January 1 killings of over 100 people in Logo and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue, Teshaku was accused of being the head of a militia allegedly raised by Governor Ortom.

    In January, Nigerian soldiers arrested nine suspected killer herdsmen on the Benue border with Taraba State. They accused Mr Teshaku of providing arms to the suspects.

    But in an interview shortly after the allegations, Teshaku accused the military of trying to frame him. He also said the military was carrying out the agenda of Miyetti Allah which remained vehemently opposed to the anti-open grazing law.

    He added that Benue Livestock Guards had about 2,500 members and eight of them were killed in the January 1 attack in Guma because they were not armed.

    The governor also denied the allegations of raising any militia, saying the Nigerian security agencies should rise to their duty and end killings of his people. He inherited Teshaku’s group from former Governor Gabriel Suswam and kept it in place because of continued attacks by suspected herdsmen.

    Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom has said the Benue State Government will not interfere in the investigations and will allow the law to take its full course.

     

    The special adviser to the governor, Paul Hembah confirmed that no ulterior motive was suspected on the part of federal government, even though he acknowledged the longstanding opposition of Miyetti Allah to Teshaku.

    “The governor has said he will not support any criminality from anyone, no matter who the person may be,” Mr Hembah, a retired colonel, told newsmen by telephone Saturday morning. “The governor will not interfere in his arrest or his release.”

    “The governor is working to end the killings so if anyone is caught, the law should take its cause,” he added.

    “We don’t suspect any foul play. We don’t think the federal government or the army is doing this to persecute him. But he would be arraigned in court and I am sure the security agency will bring out any evidence they have against him,” he said.

    He indicated that the Benue Livestock Guards would not be disbanded as a result of the arrest.

    “Naturally, someone else would be appointed to replace him because the Benue Livestock Guards would not be disbanded,” he said.

     

  • Why we are helpless about killings in Nigeria – Governors’ Forum

    Why we are helpless about killings in Nigeria – Governors’ Forum

    Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara, has state governors cannot enforce maximum security in their domains because they are not in control of security agencies.

    Yari told newsmen in Abuja at the end of an NGF meeting on Thursday that the governors were working energetically with the federal government to tackle the lingering security challenges across the nation.

    The NGF meeting, the third of its type this year, was convened to address critical issues facing the governors in their states in relation with the Federal Government.

    ‘We are not in control of either the soldiers or the police or any other security men but what we can do is to sit down with security men in our respective states to support security agencies.

    ‘’In terms of logistics, we are doing our best and we will continue to support the federal government in this regard.

    The NGF chairman also told newsmen that the security challenge facing the nation was a global phenomenon which governments all over the world are striving to contain.

    ‘’The security situation in the country is a global issue and everywhere people are dealing with the security problem.

    “The problem of security is what was inherited before the administration of today and before some of our governors emerged as governors and so as governors we are working to put in our best to support the security agencies in our respective states with logistics; that is what we can only do.

    ‘’This is our first meeting in the new secretariat of the NGF and we receive briefings from the Minister of Trade on the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    ” We looked at and deliberated on the best way for Nigeria to benefit from the agreement that was signed.

    “We also received briefings from the Metrological Centre with focus on Nigeria as a whole on expected rainfall pattern so that we can make proper planning for our farmers.

    ‘’We also received briefings on Stamp Duty Revenue from a consortium of consultants and we set up a three-member committee consisting of governors of Ogun, Niger and Akwa Ibom states, to find out how we can benefit from the stamp duty revenue received over the years.

    ‘At the same time we got briefings from the Traffic Management; we observed that it helps in two areas. One to get revenue generated and two, to help insecurity,

    “‘Most of the countries in the world when you have your car, whenever it is stolen, it can be identified easily through that process.

    ‘We are trying to import that system in Nigeria so that Nigerian people can benefit from it.

    ‘This is what is done all over the world. When a car is stolen, it can be identified easily and also on the issue of revenue generation,” Yari explained.

     

  • Benue: Labour Party condemns attack on Catholic Church, urges FG to end killings

    Benue: Labour Party condemns attack on Catholic Church, urges FG to end killings

    The Labour Party on Friday condemned the recent killings of some priests and worshippers of the Catholic Church by suspected herdsmen.

    The oarty in statement by signed by its chairman and sent to TheNewsGuru.com said the incessant killings across the country is worrisome and urged the federal government to step up the fight against terrorism in the country.

    Read full statement below:

    LABOUR PARTY COMMISERATE WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF BENUE STATE

    The National Leadership of Labour Party (LP) wishes to commiserate with the Catholic Church, people and Government of Benue State over the slaughter of two Reverend Fathers, a Catechist and 14 others, in Ayer Mbalom, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.

    “Labour Party commiserate with the Catholic Church, the people and Government of Benue State over the slaughter of two Reverend Fathers, a Catechist and 14 others.

    In a Press Statement signed by the National Chairman of the Party Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, condemned the continued killings of Nigerians across the Federation. The Party expressed worries over the inaction of Law Enforcement Agencies aimed at stopping the carnage. “The number of killings reported daily in the media can only happen in a country where there is complete breakdown of law and order or where there is no government.”

    “We are baffled and worried over the inaction of Government especially Law Enforcement Agencies aimed at abating the carnage of Nigerians across the Nation.

    “We hereby remind Mr. President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces that the principal purpose of Government is to protect lives and properties.”

    According to Abdulsalam a time will come when citizens will rise to defend themselves by taking up Arms since they are not protected by the state.

    The statement further called on the Government to evolve proactive and pragmatic measures to abate the killings. Labour Party enjoined the Government to confront poverty, Hunger and unemployment since they are bye product of violent crimes and criminality.

    “Consequently; we enjoined Government to evolve a pragmatic and proactive approach to the killings: it is, however, our belief that Government must confront the issues of hunger, poverty and unemployment as they are bye product of violent crimes and criminality.

  • Benue: Buhari reveals those behind killings, warns against reprisal attacks

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said those behind incessant attacks in Benue State and some other parts of the country are ‘evil people’ bent on bringing the country to a sorry point.

    Recall that there have been repeated killings in Benue by suspected herdsmen with the latest being the killing of two priests and some worshipers.

    In a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Thursday night, Mr Buhari said those behind the Church attack did not mean well for Nigeria and peaceful coexistence.

    He said the revenge attacks that followed in which 11 members of the Hausa communities were killed, “are part of the agenda of the bandits and their sponsors to turn Nigerians against one another.

    Read the presidency’s full statement below:

    STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
    DON’T PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF AGENTS OF DISUNITY, PRESIDENT BUHARI URGES BENUE PEOPLE

    Repeated acts of mass killings and destruction in parts of the country and Benue State in particular, point to the evil design of enemies of peace and unity who have desperately been trying to bring the country to this sorry point: a brother killing brother, a neighbor killing a neighbor and a community attacking and killing members of another community.

    The President strongly warns citizens against playing into the hands of the agents of disunity.

    President Buhari says those behind the Church attack that left 18 people dead, including two Priests, did not mean well for Nigeria and peaceful coexistence.

    The revenge attacks that followed in which 11 members of the Hausa communities were killed are part of the agenda of the bandits and their sponsors to turn Nigerians against one another. We must resist all temptation to fall into this laid out plan.

    The President is greatly pained by this persistent violence and the total disregard for the sanctity of life by those he called “these hideously evil people who have no iota of respect for humanity, decency and civilization.”

    The President reiterates that the government will not rest on its oars in its determination to fish out these barbarous mass murderers and their clandestine sponsors.

    President Buhari equally assures Nigerians that measures being put in place by the government will, sooner than later, bring to an end, these extremely brutal and wanton killings.

    Garba Shehu

    Senior Special Assistant to the President

    (Media and Publicity)

    April 26, 2018

     

  • BREAKING: Senate summons Buhari over killings in Benue, Taraba others

    The Senate on Thursday resolved to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to address a joint session of the National Assembly over the rising level of killings in the country.

    The resolution followed a motion by Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Sen. George Akume at plenary.

    Presenting the motion titled: “Continued Killings in Benue State”, Akume expressed concern on the continued destruction of lives and property, particularly in the seven local governments of Benue North West Senatorial District.

    He noted with concern that despite the presence of the military in the state, the killings and destruction of properties had continued unabated.

    ”In the morning of Tuesday, April 24, while some Christian faithful were gathered at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ayar town, Gwer East Local Government Area, they were ambushed by armed gunmen.

    “They opened fire indiscriminately on the worshipers resulting in the death of two Reverend Fathers, a catechist and 17 others.

    “This latest attack on a worship centre, which is unprecedented has grave implications for the security and unity of our dear nation.

    “The monumental refugee situation now estimated at over 200,000 is being faced by the entire state,” he said.

    The lawmaker prayed the Senate to urge the Federal Government to evaluate the entire security architecture of the country and for the identification, apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators of the killings.

    Contributing, Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi) decried the wanton killings, saying there was need for concerted efforts by relevant stakeholders to nip the problem in the bud.

    According to him, if care is not taken, it will lead to religious crisis in the country.

    “I do not think those perpetrating the crime do not have a religion. They can attack Muslims and Christians, so we should treat them as criminals.”

    Sen. Sam Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) said if not nipped in the bud, the continuous killings in the country would also lead to food scarcity.

    “If nothing is done urgently, there will be food scarcity because the places that are attacked are predominantly farmers. We must fight this as a country.

    “The service chiefs should be engaged to know what is happening. We should also seek foreign aid. I think some people are gaining from this development,” he said.

    Sen. Obinna Ogba advised that President Muhammadu Buhari be invited to a joint session of the National Assembly.

    He stressed that something drastic should be done to address the security situation of the country.

    In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said the continued killings across the country were worrisome.

    “We were talking about herdsmen and farmers, now we are talking about herdsmen and religious leaders.

    ” The dimension this is taking will lead to a serious problem if not urgently tackled.

    “We need drastic action, we must say no to the wanton killings.

    ” We cannot continue to say we are leaders; this is a failure and we must look at what we can do differently.

    “We cannot continue like this, we have to take a decision that will show we are serious given the enormity of the situation,” he said.

    The lawmakers observed a minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the latest Benue killings and in other parts of the country.

    Recall that the House of Representatives had earlier summoned the president over the incessant killings across the country.

  • Killings: Herdsmen holding Nigeria to ransom, tame them now, PDP tells Buhari

    Nigeria’s main opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday charged the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government to tame the herdsmen who have embarked on a killing spree in Nigeria since January.

    The party’s stance was made known by its chairman, Prince Uche Secondus in a reaction to the latest killings of some priests and worshippers in Benue on Tuesday.

    Secondus made the call in a condolence message to the Benue Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, and the Catholic Church in Nigeria on killing of worshipers in a church in Benue by armed herdsmen on Tuesday.

    The herdsmen murdered two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers at St. Ignatius Quashi Catholic Church at Ukpor-Mbalom in the Gwer Local Government Area of Benue.

    Secondus in the statement, issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Ike Abonyi, on Wednesday in Abuja decried the continued blood-letting in Benue and other parts of the country.

    He stressed that the apparent inability of the government to stem the killings had raised a lot of concern on the future of the country.

    “From whichever angle you are witnessing what is happening in this country, one thing is agreeable that this country is sliding dangerously.

    “Nigerians and the global community have continued to watch.

    “In the last one week, we have watched as disturbing indices continue to crop up, ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

    Secondus admonished security operatives to ensure that their patriotism was to the country.

    “I find it unexplainable that some group of gunmen should hold a state to ransom since January, killing and maiming citizens and destroying their houses and the security operatives appear helpless.

    “Where are the military operatives that carried out Python and Crocodile dances in the South-East and South-South?

    “How can anybody expect Benue State for instance to contribute its own share of the $1billion security vote when the national security architecture is not designed to protect their people?’’

  • BREAKING: Reps summon Buhari over incessant killings in Benue

    …suspends plenary for three days to commiserate with victims

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to summon President Muhammadu Buhari over the incessant killings by suspected herdsmen in Benue state and other parts of the country.

    The unprecedented decision was unanimously welcomed by an overwhelming majority of members after a Kano lawmaker, Baballe Bashir (APC, Kano) moved for the amendment of a motion moved by Mark Gbilah (APC, Benue).

    The House also resolved to suspend its plenary for three days (one week) in solidarity with victims of attacks across the country.

    At least 15 people were killed early Tuesday at a Church in Benue.

    Details later…

  • Benue: CAN frowns at incessant killings, urges Christians to protest across Nigeria

    Sequel to Tuesday’s killing of two serving priests and 13 worshippers of the Catholic Church in Benue State, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged Christians to protest across Nigeria.

    In a statement by Adebayo Oladeji, the special assistant on media and communication to the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, the association said the high rate of killings in the country is slowly turning Nigeria into a state of “anomie”.

    The statement said the protest will be aimed at canvassing government’s increased commitment towards the release of abducted Dapchi student, Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls as well as other innocent Nigerians held captive by the Boko Haram terror group.

    Recall that over 15 people were killed during an early morning attack at Saint Ignatius Catholic church in Benue State on Tuesday, including two priests.

    According to the statement, however, the Christian association is asking the federal government to increase efforts towards the arrest and prosecution of herdsmen, as a measure for curtailing the problem.

    “CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, in the premises of their churches asking the Federal Government and the security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country.

    “Christians are to carry placards with inscriptions meant to address issues about sustained killings, attacks and destruction of their property in Nigeria. The inscriptions on placards could read, “Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria”, “Enough of unlawful killings in the country”, “FG, Release Leah Sharibu from the bondage”, “FG, Stop Herdsmen Killings”, “CAN rejects FG’s poor handling of insecurity”, etc.

    “It also dedicates same day for prayers for the freedom and liberty of Leah Sharibu, the remaining Chibok Girls and others still in captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists. We are already at a breaking point and a state of anomie is almost here. ”

    According to the statement, the killings have only persisted because of what the association describes as government’s inability to effectively arrest the situation.

    “CAN notes that the failure of the government to raise an effective campaign against the killings by herdsmen is the reason they have continued to kill, while there is no visible plan to pacify the aggrieved.

    “The Association also calls on the heads of the security agencies to wake up to their constitutional role of protecting lives and property across the federation while preventing Nigeria from descending into chaos and a lawless country.”

    The association described the killings as inimical to the progress and unity of Nigeria.

    “Lastly, it reminds Christians across the federation the importance of the forthcoming general election and the need for them to fully participate this time, by trooping to obtain their voters cards with which to play a role in the emergence of new set of political leaders in Nigeria during next year’s elections who could guarantee their security and safety,” the statement highlighted.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest attack while insisting that his administration will do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators.

  • Labour party condemns Senate invasion, incessant killings across Nigeria

    One of the opposition party in the country; Labour Party (LP) has expressed concern over the incessant killings in some part of the country.

    This was contained in press statement signed by the National Chairman of the party Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam. “The Leadership of our party expressed serious worries over the continued killings of Nigerians by the Armed Bandit”. The Armed Bandit have unabatedly continued to wreck havoc, mostly in the middle belt area of the country. The inability of the Nigerian Security agencies to contain them may spell greater doom for lives in susceptible areas.

    The statement, however, called on the Federal Government to adopt a holistic approach and be proactive in its response to issues of security in order to abate the carnage.

    The statement condemns the forceful invasion of the Senate by Senator Omo Ovie Agege with thugs and hoodlums describing the action(s) as uncivilized. “We joined other Nigerians to condemn the action(s) of Senator Omo Ovie Agege for recruiting thugs to invade the senate and remove the Mace at the plenary. It is most uncivilized and portrays the high level of insecurity in the country”.

    If the motivation for the show of shame was to ingratiate himself to the Presidency in the battle of 2019 tickets of the APC, then beyond being an unenviable role model and unfortunate proxy.

  • ‘Herdsmen attacks will plunge Nigeria into major food crisis’ Soyinka warns

    ‘Herdsmen attacks will plunge Nigeria into major food crisis’ Soyinka warns

    Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka on Friday expressed grave concern over the continued displacement of the nation’s farming population in various parts of the country by rampaging violent herdsmen.

    Soyinka warned that if nothing was done urgently to stem the tide of killings and sacking of farmers by herdsmen, the dark cloud of violence could plunge the country into a major food crisis.

    The renowned playwright and author of Kongi harvest, who spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, during a conference session on African Drum Festival, said a period like the on – going drum festival, demands a moment of sober reflection on the onslaught by herdsmen against the primary producers of food in the country.

    Soyinka who is the consultant for this year’s African Drum festival, however, added that the appalling situation should not be allowed to completely dampen the spirit of creativity.

    He called for the immediate restoration of displaced farmers to their traditional base, as a first step towards ensuring that this country is good habitation for people .