Tag: Benue killings

I have no plans to dump APC – Ortom

Emporium Reporters

Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, has denied any plan to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC). The denial is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Terver Akase issued to newsmen in Makurdi. It said that the media report on the governor’s purported plan to leave the APC was false, misleading and handiwork of detractors playing politics with the blood of the people. ”We read a report in a national daily of today which named Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom as one of the All Progressives Congress…

Buhari Has Admitted Leading An Inept Government, Says PDP

Emporium Reporters

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said President Muhammadu Buhari, in saying that he was unaware that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, did not carry out his orders regarding the security situation in Benue state, has directly admitted running an incompetent, disorganized and uncoordinated administration. PDP stated that President Buhari’s explanation on the IGP was also an admission that he has handed over power to a cabal that neither sought for votes nor elected by Nigerians. The party said President Buhari has irredeemably indicted himself adding that such unpardonable…

Benue Cancels Mass Burial, Prepares For Buhari’s Visit

Emporium Reporters

Benue State government has canceled the planned mass burial for victims of Fulani herdsmen attack in Okpokwu. The government had promised to accord all the 24 victims of the Omusu Edimoga herdsmen attack a mass burial on Friday (today). Governor Samuel Ortom made the announcement for the burial during his visit to Omusu Edimoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state, where the attack took place on Monday, March 5, 2018. The herdsmen were said to have invaded the community between 2 pm and 3 pm on the said…

DSS Arrests suspected killer of Taraba lawmaker

Emporium Reporters

The Department of State Services said it had arrested Barnabas Torva Amadu, who was accused of being a member of a gang that kidnapped and killed Mr. Hosea Ibi. Ibi, until he was kidnapped and killed, was a member of the Taraba State House of Assembly. The service said Amadu was arrested on February 25, at Takum in Taraba State, when a joint team of service operatives and the military arrested the 23-year-old Isaiah Suwe. Suwe was said to have led the team to Gbise Village, Katsina Ala Local Government…

Benue: Missing Nigerian Police Officer Found Dead

Emporium Reporters

A Nigerian police officer who went missing in Benue State on Saturday has been found dead, locals told PREMIUM TIMES Monday. The officer, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, was amongst the four mobile police officers that went missing following an ambush on their patrol vehicle in Logo Local Government Area on Saturday. The incident occurred in Tse Akpam village, near Azege town around 3:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon while the officers were returning from a peace-building mission in remote villages, Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, told PREMIUM TIMES. The remains…

Police interrogate DPO, arrest others over killing of seven passengers in Gboko

Emporium Reporters

The Police Command in Benue is interrogating the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Gboko A Division over the Wednesday killing of seven persons. The Commissioner of Police in Benue, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said in Makurdi on Friday that some persons had been arrested in connection with the killings. Seven passengers were killed and burnt by a mob at Gboko Motor Park in Gboko Local Government Area. Owoseni said the DPO was being questioned on whether he acted professionally upon getting a distress call on the day of the incident.…

Islamic State Responsible for Killings in Benue, Others says DSS

Emporium Reporters

The Islamic State in West Africa network operating within some North Central and South-South sections of Nigeria may be responsible for the recent killings recorded in Benue State and other parts of the country, Punch reports on Sunday. This information is said to be contained in an intelligence report presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by security agencies, including the Department of State Service. A top government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity told journalists on Sunday that the security organisations told the President that the ISWA network is…

Herdsmen: The Circumstantial Case Against Buhari By Herdsmen: The Circumstantial Case Against Buhari By Moses E Ochonu

Emporium Reporters

The circumstantial case against Buhari is compelling and may help explain the signature failures of his administrations, from his neglect of the deadly violence of armed herdsmen to the collapse of his war against corruption. A few facts will suffice. 1. In October 2000, Muhammadu Buhari led a Fulani delegation to confront Governor Lam Adesina of Oyo State on the death of some herders allegedly killed by farmers during clashes. His was not a fact-finding or peace mission. He had a predetermined agenda founded on a preconceived understanding of what…

The Nigerian Killing Fields By Ahmad Salkida

Emporium Reporters

There is an ugly, depressing reality of Nigeria that beggars understanding. The leaders and the institutions they run have generally been skewed to revere and pamper themselves as the demi-gods, while utterly placing no value on the lives and aspirations of ordinary citizens outside the circle of the ruling elites. The public systems and institutions are not designed for problem-solving mechanisms. Which is why the culture of public blame is a pastime of both the political class and the military jackboots. The buck starts with the rulers and must be…

Senate gives IGP 14-days to arrest killers in Benue

Emporium Reporters

The Senate has given the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr Ibrahim Idris 14 day ultimatum to arrest and investigate the perpetrators of Benue killings. This position was sequel to the consideration of a report of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Review of the Current Security Infrastructure in Nigeria. The committee had on Friday last week, visited Benue to ascertain the level of killings in the state. The report was presented by Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Ahmed Lawan during plenary on Tuesday. He said the recommendations of the…