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Tag: kogi

  • Attacks: Kogi places N5m bounty on assailants

    Attacks: Kogi places N5m bounty on assailants

    The Kogi Government has offered a N5 million reward for any information that can lead to the arrest of the assailants behind the recent bloody attacks on some communities in the state.

    The government in a statement in Lokoja on Wednesday said that the offer was to ensure that the perpetrators were apprehended and made to face justice for the dastardly acts.

    Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Director -General, Media and Publicity to the Governor, signed the statement.

    “ Intelligence reports showed that the attackers at Agbenema on the afternoon of Monday, 19th March, 2018 appeared to be the same group which attacked Ojuwo Ajamàgbe, near Oganenigu in Dekina Local Government Area five days earlier.

    ” Kogi State Government and the security services are sparing neither expense nor effort to track down these murderers and ensure justice is served.

    “ The government is immensely saddened by the attack on Agbenema, a peaceful community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State by mercenaries reportedly working for herdsmen in the area,”Fanwo said.

    He said three people, including the traditional ruler of Agbenema, Onu Musa Edibo, were killed during the attack.

    Fanwo said other persons injured in the attack are responding to treatment in hospitals.

    He dismissed the report that the wife of the traditional ruler was among those killed.

    Fanwo, however, reiterated government ’s commitment to the security of lives and property of residents irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation.

  • Video: Melaye drops new song, lambasts Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello

    Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West district, in a video on Wednesday reacted to reports that two criminal suspects allegedly working for him were arrested and paraded by officers of the Nigerian police force.
    The controversial senator in a video caption,”Yahaya Bello ma lo prison” which he shared on his Instagram page blasted the governor in pidgin lyrics.

    He described the allegation as a mere threat, adding that “the venom of a viper does nothing to the back of a tortoise”.

    Yahaya Bello ma lo prison

    A post shared by Dino Melaye (@dinomelaye) on

  • Court dismisses suit seeking to remove Yahaya Bello as Kogi governor

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed a suit seeking to remove Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, from office.

    Justice John Tsoho dismissed the suit on grounds that the plaintiffs, Mr Michael Elokun, Mr Ibrahim Sule and Mrs Hawa Audi had no business instituting the case.

    The plaintiffs were asking the court to grant an order for the return and immediate swearing-in of Mr Idris Wada, former governor of the state.

    Tsoho, in his judgment, upheld the objection of Bello that the plaintiffs had no “locus standi” to institute the action.

    He held that the plaintiffs were neither members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) nor aspirants in the primary election that made Bello the candidate of the party in the governorship election.

    Moreso, the court agreed with Bello that the plaintiffs were not the only electorate in Kogi.

    The judge also held that the subject matter of the suit was not within the jurisdiction of the court as it was not a pre-election matter.

    He said that the suit was bound to fail because it was filed almost two years after Bello had been sworn in as the democratically-elected governor of Kogi.

    Other defendants in the suit are the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

  • Herdsmen invade Kogi community, kill traditional ruler, wife, nine others

    Herdsmen invade Kogi community, kill traditional ruler, wife, nine others

    There was pandemonium on Monday in Kogi as suspected herdsmen in separate attacks on Agbenema, Aj’Ichekpa, Opada and Iyade villages killed ten persons, including a traditional ruler, the Onu Agbenema, Musa Edibo; his wife while several houses were also burnt down.

    Agbenema is in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    The attackers who were allegedly armed with sophisticated weapons hid in the bushes around these villages from were they reportedly launched deadly attacks on their targets.

    According to the natives, the herdsmen whose mode of operation is to set the houses ablaze and open fire on the fleeing inhabitants, allegedly slit victims’ throats and cut off their vital parts.

    The natives who would not want their names in print stated that the administrator of Omala LGA, Ibrahim Aboh, was lucky to have escaped from the attackers.

    Also, the houses of former chairman, Adofu Stephen; and that of his parents were burnt.

    Residents said soldiers who were drafted to curtail the herdsmen’s rampage allegedly refused to assist them to repel the suspected herdsmen.

    “We were surprised when we approached the soldiers who were stationed at the Guest House at Abejukolo for assistance.

    “They refused to act professionally, as they used their vehicle to block us from advancing to the troubled spot to help our people.

    “They have razed down Ojuwo Ajomayeigbi, Iyade, Agbenema and Opada villages.

    “We want the world to come to our assistance before they exterminate and inherit our land.”

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command said he was yet to be briefed by the DPO in Omala.

    He promised to get back with details.

  • Panic as herdsmen invade Kogi communities, kill 25

    There was pandemonium in Kogi State on Thursday as persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen unleashed terror on three communities in leaving 25 people dead and several injured.

    Oganienugwu and Ikende communities in Dekina Local Government Area were affected; as well as Abejukolo in Omala LGA, all in the Eastern Senatorial district of the state.

    As at the time of filing this report, villagers were reportedly moving out of Obakume, Idirisu, and Oji Apata to escape possible attacks.

    According to eyewitness reports, over 25 people have been killed in the sustained attack which started on Tuesday and continued till Thursday.

    A detachment of police and soldiers have been drafted to quell the violence.

    The mode of killing employed by the hoodlums was to slaughter the victims after tying them up; while those who attempted to escape alleged received machete cuts.

    Sources said villagers were woken up by gunshots by the hoodlums dressed in army uniform.

    It was also gathered that gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles had visited mayhem on the villagers in their farms before returning in the night around 1am while villagers slept.

    Several houses were razed and others demolished in the violent attacks which left no fewer than 25 dead.

    The Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Monday Bala, who confirmed the incident, said the command was yet to ascertain the actual casualty figure.

    He said the command has drafted men of the command alongside men of the armed forces to deal with the situation, adding that his men are in total control of the situation.

  • Kogi Gov. arming militia groups ahead of 2019, says Melaye

    Senator Dino Melaye has again alleged that militia groups are being armed in his state.

    Melaye who raised a point of order on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, accused Governor Bello of arming militia groups in the state.

    He also claimed that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), recently intercepted military hardwares, allegedly imported into the country by Kogi State Government, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Melaye listed “sewn military camouflages with bola hats, many bullet proof vests, night vision googles, tactical boots, tactical knapsacks, training canvas, boxing gloves, among others,” as part of the items recovered.

    The lawmaker claimed that one Mr. Jerry Omadara, security adviser to Kogi State Governor, has admitted that the seized items belong to the Government of Kogi State.

    “Upon seizure of these items, one Jerry Omadara, who is the security adviser to governor of Kogi state went to the Customs officers and told them that the items belonged to the Kogi State Government and even gave them his complimentary card.

    “These items are with NACO at the airport here in Abuja. I thereby move that the committee constituted this morning to move to the airport to make sure that these items are there and not moved and properly investigated. I said before that militias are being equipped by the Kogi State Government,” Melaye alleged.

    Meanwhile, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has warned politicians in the country to call their supporters to order ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    “If we destroy this country, all of us will suffer it. So we need to do whatever possible we can to ensure that we keep the waters of democracy clean. The issue of violence may not help any person. Let us believe this will not be the true fact, but because it has been raised, I think it is Important for avoidance of doubt to ensure that we look into this to be able to know what is true and what is not true in the circumstance,” Ekweremadu said.

    In the meantime, Ekweremadu has announced the membership of the committee to investigate an alleged attack on Senator Ahmed Ogembe in Okene, Kogi State.

    James Manager of Delta South was appointed to head the committee. Others appointed into the committee which was announced by Ekweremadu are Jeremiah Useni, Isah Hamman Misau, Kabiru Marafa, Solomon Olamilekan, Matthew Urhoride and Chukwuka Utazi.

  • NNPC, Kogi sign MoU to produce 84m litres of bio-fuel annually

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Kogi State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a fuel-ethanol plant that will produce 84 million litres of bio-fuel annually.

    The NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru said this in a statement issued by the corporation’s Spokesman Mr Ndu Ughamadu in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Baru said the project would also yield a cane mill and a raw and refined sugar plant of 126,000 tonnes annually.

    He said that the Bagasse co-generation plant would also generate 64 megawatts of power, stressing that the plant would include a carbon dioxide recovery and bottling plant with a capacity of 2,000 tonnes per year.

    “The sugarcane feedstock plantation would be on a 19,000 hectares and it would produce 63,000 tonnes of animal feeds per year,’’ Baru said.

    Baru said the execution of the MoU was a milestone considering the present administration’s determination to diversify the economy and meet growing energy demand.

    “NNPC is committed to implementing Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement aimed at combating global Climate Change.

    “This, President Muhammadu Buhari signed and deposited Nigeria’s `Instrument of Ratification’ to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in May 2017.”

    He said the project would mitigate the negative effect of climate change and earn Nigeria carbon credits and serve as an additional line of profitable business for NNPC, including food production and power generation.
    Baru envisaged that the proposed NNPC Bio-fuels project in Kaba/Bunu, Kogi State would be an integrated feedstock plantation and process plants complex.

    “It will be on a land mass of 20,000 hectares for sugarcane and or 15,000 hectares for cassava with potential for further expansion.

    “NNPC has carried out seven bankable feasibility studies which include three integrated sugarcane fuel ethanol projects in Benue, Kebbi and Gombe States.

    “Two integrated cassava fuel ethanol projects in Ondo and Anambra States and two integrated oil palm bio-diesel projects in Rivers and Cross River States,’’ Baru said.

    In his remarks, Gov. Yahaya Bello said the MoU was a milestone, adding that the project would take no fewer than two million indigenes out of the streets.

    He applauded the President and Baru for their doggedness to diversify the Nigerian economy, adding that the state was ready to provide all the needed support for the take-off of the project.

     

  • Pay us our salaries, we are dying – Kogi workers tell Gov Bello

    Workers in Kogi State have appealed to Governor Yahaya Bello to clear their backlog of their salaries before death kills them all.

    The appeal was made on behalf of the workers by the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Onu Edoka, spoke on Friday at an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the union in the country.

    Recall that workers in Kogi were paid 60 per cent of five months’ salary arrears last December and had yet to be paid January salaries.

    Edoka, in a keynote address said, “Your Excellency, workers said I should ask you where our salaries are. As obedient servants, we are dying. As people who have contributed their quota in the development of the state and have left service, we are dying.

    “To this end, we wish to compassionately appeal to you. We are aware that allocation came to Kogi State last month and by the statement of the Commissioner for Finance, what came as allocation to the state was put at N4.3bn while local governments got N3.8bn. But up until this moment, no salary has been paid in Kogi. Let our own not drop into River Niger again (sic).”

    Edoka equally used the forum to speak on the alleged premature retirement of some workers, proscription of labour unions and the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by medical doctors in the state.

    He said, “You will agree with me that appointment in this government has been upside down in the sense that junior workers are placed above seniors.

    “Medical doctors in Kogi have been on strike for over one month. Mothers, children are dying at home. For this obvious fact, we appeal to the state government to call our doctors to a meeting and bring this mater to an end.

    “Why the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have not joined the strike is because we have come to the realisation that strike may not be the solution to our problems any more. It is all about the person who is the chief executive and his state of mind on the development and welfare of workers.

    “The proscription of unions in Kogi is completely detrimental to the progress of democracy, unacceptable to the Nigeria Labour Congress and completely illegal, and we shall not stand by it.

    “We will speak for the voiceless and the same voice will still speak again. We shall resist it with the last drop of our blood to see that we will not be tamed in any form or turned beggars in our state.”

    In his response, Bello said that the ongoing fight against corruption across the country would achieve greater success if organised labour strengthened itself and worked with the government to fish out corrupt officials.

    Bello urged the NLC to fight for the welfare of Nigerian workers and play the role of whistle-blower to assist government in bringing corrupt officials to justice.

    The governor, who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Simon Achuba, congratulated labour on its 40th anniversary and enjoined its leadership to always stand for what is good for workers and the country.

  • Kogi State donates 15,000 hectares of land to Nigerian government for cattle colony

    Kogi State donates 15,000 hectares of land to Nigerian government for cattle colony

    Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, on Friday, in Abuja, officially handed a letter conveying the donation of 15,000 hectares ‎of land to the Federal Government for the cattle colony programme.

    The governor said the people and government of the state were ready for the cattle colony programme in the state.

    Speaking during a visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Bello said 15,000 hectares of land has been provided; 10,000 in‎ Ajaokuta and 5,000 in Adavi Local Government area, both in the central senatorial district of the state.

    The governor said the people of the areas have been fully informed and were in agreement with the policy.

    In his response, the Minister expressed gratitude to the governor for taking the initiative.

    He reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to developing a livestock sector where pastoralists and farmers would live peacefully.

    He dispelled insinuations that the cattle colony policy was intended to seize people’s land and impose Fulani domination.

    Ogbeh also said the ministry would mobilise immediately to work by developing the colonies.

  • Melaye condemns sack of Kogi workers, says it is ‘illegal, unacceptable’

    …Urges affected civil servants to seek redress in court

    Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye on Tuesday condemned the state government’s recent sack of some civil servants in the state.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Kogi State Government on Sunday confirmed the compulsory retirement of eight permanent secretaries, some directors and dismissal of 1, 774 others from the state civil service.

    However, Melaye, one of the three senators from the state who is known for his open disagreements with Governor Yahaya Bello in a swift reaction condemned the mass sack insisting it was anti-people.

    Melaye stated this in a statement he personally signed and forwarded to TheNewsGuru.com for publication.

    The outspoken senator, however, urged the affected civil servants to seek redress from a competent law court.

    The statement reads in full:

    The indiscriminate sacking of workers has now become a pastime for Yahaya Bello in Kogi State – a state that has been turned to a Civil Service State owing to the dearth of ideas to turnaround the fortunes of the state for development, productivity and sustainability.

    The latest of Yahaya Bello’s unnecessary war against the civil servants in Kogi State was delivered in a garb of a report by a Staff Screening, Validation and Appeal Committee, which recommended outright dismissal and prosecution of 1,667 workers cutting across ministries, departments and agencies of the state government (MDAs) on the spurious allegation of certificate forgery.

    On Monday, January 8 and Tuesday, January 9, a national daily carried a two-part paid advertorial containing the names of the indicted civil servants and in the words of the committee, they were “indicted for breaching Public Service Rules as a result of falsification of academic records.”

    According to the advertorials sponsored by the state government in this hard times, the committee did not avail the public or Kogites of its methodology of coming to the judgment of falsification against the academic certificates of the said workers.

    For the avoidance of doubt, the committee has no power to declare any worker’s academic result(s) fake except a competent court of law. This goes without saying the embarrassment caused the workers, their families and friends, particularly the elderly victims of Yahaya Bello’s charade, who had served the state for decades and rose to the enviable position of a Permanent Secretary.

    This kind of inhuman government has no place in our society and her actions cannot go unchallenged. Consequently, I sympathise with the affected workers and their families while I implore them to go to court immediately to seek redress and clear their names of forgery allegation leveled against by an anti-people government of Kogi.

    For the records, Yahaya Bello claims he obtained a whopping N10 billion Loan to offset salary arrears. This is a lie and it can be easily detected to be so because there was no approval to that effect by the State House of Assembly on one hand and on the other hand the outstanding 15-month salary due to the civil servants in the state as at today puts a lie to the governor’s claim.

    If the immediate past Governor Idris Wada of Kogi can be spending a little over N3 billion as monthly salary of workers during his time and without sacking anybody, how come Yahaya Bello, who had sacked over 3,000 workers since inception, cannot pay staff salaries today?

    It is clear to me that Yahaya Bello is only trying to reduce Kogi State’s monthly salary bill by victimising innocent civil workers in order for him to have more money for frivolities as we are witnessing in the state of recent.

    Therefore, in order to put an end to Yahaya Bello’s unending lies, I challenge him to publish the names of workers paid their full salaries for the month of December 2017 and the names of banks used in the payment. I also challenge him to a public debate on the state of affairs of our dear Kogi State.